Sylvester Williams DT North Carolina #92
Wt: 313
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Size/Athleticism: Prototypical height and overall build for a defensive tackle. Moves well for an interior lineman and it isn’t just straight-line speed. His lateral movement is impressive. Strong arms allow him to swat away offensive tackles end disengage from blocks.
Run Defense: Consistently bursts through the line of scrimmage and makes plays in the backfield. Lateral movement allows him to slide along the line, enabling him to blug holes that many other tackles won’t get to. Gives a great effort in pursuit. Gets down the field in pursuit more frequently than the typical interior lineman. Doesn’t hold up quite as well at the point of attack as you’d expect considering his size.
Pass Rush: Explodes off the line of scrimmage. His initial burst is impressive and he builds momentum quickly. Plays out of control and doesn’t always seem to have a game plan. If he doesn’t win off the snap, he doesn’t have a backup plan to fight his way into the backfield.
Versatility: Could play the three-technique or the nose tackle position in the 4-3 defense. Best suited to play end in a 3-4, but could potentially play nose tackle if he added some weight.
Intangibles: Lacked motivation in high school. Only played one year of football and reportedly frequently skipped school. Didn’t attend college after high school and worked in a factory. Eventually walked on at community college. Turned his life around and is regarded as an extremely hard worker who is dedicated to football. 25 years old and mature compared to the average rookie.
Durability: Suffered a sprained ankle in 2012 but played through the injury. Started all 25 games during his career at UNC.
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Comments: Williams needs to refine his technique as a pass-rusher and become more consistent, but he has the potential to be an incredibly well-rounded lineman. Some teams may view his age negatively, but his maturity and work ethic should make teams confident in his ability to make an immediate impact and develop quickly.