Tag: isaiah bond

A multisport prep athlete out of the Lone Star State, Texas Christian University wide receiver Savion Williams has plenty of coveted traits as well as some major question marks to address — most notably, just what position is he in the NFL?

In the high school, Williams played quarterback, which was occasionally put to use by the Horned Frogs. He also was into hoops and ran track before committing to play football for Arkansas. Williams ultimately backed out of his agreement to join the program and opted for TCU, where he’d go on to play in the 2022-23 National Championship Game vs. Georgia.

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 222 pounds
40 time: 4.48 seconds

Watching Williams play vs. looking at his raw statistical output is a mind-bending experience. He jumps off the screen with the ball in his hands, and TCU moved him all around for manufactured touches to exploit matchups, but the actual production was far from impressive in the context of being a wide receiver.

This is a result of bringing him along slowly the first two years while playing a reserve role to Quentin Johnston and also working through the inconsistencies of having three quarterbacks in an offense that spreads the ball around. At any rate, Williams bypassed the NFL last year and it paid off with his finest statistical showing to date.

Lining up all over the field as well as limited utilization as a return man put his diverse traits on full display, and he’ll find a home during the 2025 NFL Draft, likely in the fourth round.

Table: WR Savion Williams, TCU (2020-24)

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

• Excellent size-speed combination — strong enough to outmuscle defenders and fast enough to run away from many
• Dynamic in the open field — lateral movement skills and fluid hips that are rarely seen in WRs of his size
• Versatility — more than half of his touches in 2024 came on the ground, scoring as many rushing touchdowns as he did receiving. Found success throwing the ball — a callback to his time as a high school QB
• Can play all over, lining up as a wildcat quarterback, running back, inside and outside receiver
• Catches passes on all three levels but has dangerous vertical elements to his game
• High-points 50/50 balls well — gives his QB an easy bailout if the coverage is tight as most defenders can’t compete with 6-foot-4 plus a 40-inch vertical jump
• Above-average body control for a big man
• Coming off his most productive season, suggesting his trajectory leaves untapped potential

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Cons

• Suspect hands — hard to say if it’s more concentration or coordination since he has shown issues with both
• Sloppy footwork in his route running — inconsistency, too many wasted steps and rounded breaks
• What is he in the pros? Some teams may see him as a gadget player and never give him a true shot as a receiver
• Low floor — high probability he’s relegated to manufactured touches and special teams or outright flops out of the league
• Limited production in relation to his skill set — as mentioned, a lot of factors out of his control worked against him, but you come away expecting more in stats columns

Fantasy football outlook

Don’t be fooled by the rushing stats … he’s no Deebo Samuel. A great NFL comparison is Cordarrelle Patterson — similarly sized, comparable skill sets, and create matchup troubles. Patterson was a bust as a first-round pick but has carved out a nice career for a decade-plus doing what teams ask of him.

If that’s how Williams’ career plays out, consider it a win. Conversely, if he’s out of the NFL by Year 3 or 4, no one should be surprised. Another reasonable comp is Chase Claypool — big, fast, downfield threats who struggle with the basics. Let’s hope he is closer to the former than the latter between these two.

A creative coach with the patience to tolerate drops and a rather steep development curve as an actual wide receiver will get the most mileage from Williams. Sean McVay comes to mind, and learning behind Davante Adams along with Puka Nacua is enticing. Miami and San Francisco also jump out as favorable landing spots. If Williams falls out of the fourth round, consider it telling in terms of how NFL evaluators feel about him translating to the pros.

Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond was a Georgia state track champion and four-star recruit to the University of Alabama, where he’d play two seasons before transferring to the Longhorns after Nick Saban retired.

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 180 pounds
40 time: 4.39 seconds

Even though Bond never really produced a monster statistical line, the true junior has shown enough in a reduced role to have NFL scouts keen on his transition to the pros. It will be awfully surprising if he falls past Round 4, even if the numbers alone don’t necessarily warrant a higher selection.

Table: WR Isaiah Bond, Texas (2022-24)

*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

• Game-breaking speed — official 4.39-second 40 time at the NFL Scouting Combine might even be considered a disappointment
• Electric with the ball in his hands — a legit threat to house it from anywhere
• Lethal on crossing and dig routes but experienced with a wide range of route concepts
• Creates adequate separation to compensate for a lack of length and physicality
• Reliable hands
• System and role versatility — can fit into most NFL designs and is able to be moved around the field, but he’ll be at his best in a timing-based passing game
• Offers utility across all three levels of the route tree
• Unafraid to mix it up over the middle
• Untapped potential — often was used as a decoy or played second fiddle

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Cons

• Despite his willingness to compete in traffic, it’s far from his strong suit
• Lack of size limits his catch radius and functional strength trying to get away from press coverage
• Hampered late in 2024 after suffering and later aggravating an ankle injury
• Seriously underutilized — while it leaves room for upside, that’s not to say he isn’t without question marks heading into the NFL

Fantasy football outlook

Finding a one-for-one NFL comparison rarely happens, so a blended view is most often the best path. Size and speed comps are close for Jaylen Waddle, though the Miami Dolphin has demonstrated he can be a possession guy when needed. There’s a hint of Henry Ruggs in his game, too — all three having Alabama ties makes sense given the profile Saban recruited. Baltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers is a great example of what Bond could develop into as a ceiling.

In the short term, Bond profiles as a fantasy DFS option or potential waiver pickup for matchup deployment. Given his limited run in college and lack of targets, expect a gradual maturation process with scripted touches to exploit defenders with his raw athleticism being likely early on. The long-range view has the speedster among the most intriguing high-upside picks at the position with WR2 a strong possibility by Year 2.