Tag: Isaiah Williams

Three UDFA’s that could impress at Lions rookie minicamp

Three UDFA’s that could impress at Lions rookie minicamp, including an intriguing WR prospect

As teams across the NFL welcome their rookies to their rookie mini-camp, the Detroit Lions will be doing the same today. They will be getting their first look at the rookies they have on the roster. From the 6 players they drafted to 30 other players that signed as undrafted free agents (UDFA) or trying out for the team, the competition will be real.

That’s one thing we’ve learned from the Lions coaching staff over the years and is they want competition. That competition has opened doors of opportunities for veteran players such as Kalif Raymond, John Cominsky and others.

While I can’t wait to see how Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw play this summer, I’m really excited to see a couple of undrafted players compete. Let’s take a look at three UDFA’s that could impress over the next few days at Lions rookie mini-camp.

Illinois WR Isaiah Williams

Starting with a player that has a clear path to becoming a number 4 or number 5 receiver on the roster. Isaiah Williams from Illinois should get a chance to crack the 53-man roster.

He’s listed 5’10” and 186 pounds and is more of a gadget player than anything else. However, he posted 82 receptions in consecutive seasons at Illinois and is tough over the middle of the field.

While he doesn’t have blazing speed, he plays faster than he tested. Additionally, the usage and ability to move him around offensive formations could bode well for him with Ben Johnson as the offensive coordinator. Even though it does sound like Brad Holmes is content with Antoine Green and Donovan Peoples-Jones, it wouldn’t be surprising if Williams forces the Lions to make some difficult decisions in August.

Ole Miss EDGE Isaac Ukwu

One thing we’ve learned with Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn, they have a type for their defensive front. Ole Miss EDGE Isaac Ukwu certainly fits that type of player.

Listed at 6’3″ and 258 pounds, I’ve only watched one game of him up to this point. He’s not been overly impressive but there are certainly flashes. His ability to hit a ghost rush or dip his shoulder and turn the corner to pressure the quarterback is fun to watch.

Ukwu needs to get stronger against the run. Primarily with recognizing blocks faster and staying square to the opposition. That will all come with time but the chance to compete is important and Ukwu will get that chance. I could see a scenario where he finds himself in some type of rotation with Mathieu Betts, James Houston and Josh Paschal.

Florida IOL Kingsley Eguakan

Finding a backup center should be a goal for the Lions this summer. While it’s nice to rely on Graham Glasgow, it’s important to have multiple options on the interior part of your offensive line.

When looking at Kingsley Eguakan, he was a player that I watched a few weeks prior to the Senior Bowl and he impressed me enough that I thought he would be drafted. Unfortunately, he didn’t and he now finds himself in Detroit with a clear opportunity to earn the backup role at center.

Eguakan is 6’3″ and 307 pounds and he put up 26 reps on the bench press at the Scouting Combine. His frame appears to be somewhat maxed out but he’s a strong finisher in the run game. One of the biggest concerns with him was health as he battled through an ankle injury for most of last season. He’ll need to get stronger and he’ll have to improve his pad level. However, there’s much to be desired with his skill-set as a developmental prospect.

Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew believes Detroit ‘pretty well stocked’ at WR

Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew believes Lions ‘pretty well stocked’ at WR when talking about Isaiah Williams’ chances as a UDFA

Isaiah Williams is easily the undrafted rookie with the highest expectations as the Detroit Lions begin their rookie minicamp. Detroit signed Williams to a $225,000 base salary guarantee as a UDFA out of Illinois after the 2024 NFL draft.

However, Williams faces an uphill battle to stick in Detroit. At least that’s what Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew intimated on Friday in his pre-practice press conference.

Agnew noted Williams’ background coming out of St. Louis, where the Lions assistant GM played on the Rams’ defensive line for the final three seasons of his career. Williams was a quarterback as a youth and began at that position at Illinois before switching later in his time in Champaign.

He talked up the “playmaker” nature and mentality Williams brings, but that won’t ensure a spot on the Lions roster, not even with the hefty signing bonus and salary guarantee. Agnew noted that the wide receiver position is “pretty well stocked for us.”

That’s a statement that might catch some observers off-guard, though it’s been a consistent message from the offseason actions the Lions have taken all winter and spring.

After re-signing Donovan Peoples-Jones, a midseason trade acquisition in 2023, the Lions are running back the same receiving corps as in 2023, with the exception of Josh Reynolds, who signed as a free agent in Denver. Reynolds started 13 games and caught 40 passes for 608 yards and five touchdowns in the regular season. All were second on the team amongst wide receivers behind All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Jameson Williams is expected to step up in his third season and the first without any offseason issues (injury, gambling suspension) occluding his path. Veteran Kalif Raymond (35 catches, 489 yards in 2023) is back as well. Peoples-Jones and 2023 seventh-rounder Antoine Green, as well as former Saints starter Tre’Quan Smith are all in the mix as well.

Williams joins that competition, along with another UDFA the team signed, Jalon Calhoun from Duke.

Illinois WR Isaiah Williams would be a perfect middle round draft pick for Ravens

If the Baltimore Ravens can grab Illinois WR Isaiah Williams somewhere in a middle-to-later round, they definitely should.

In the latest edition of this site’s Every Round Baltimore Ravens Mock Draft, the following pick stands out: Rd5: Pick 153 Isaiah Williams, WR, Illinois. This would be a great selection, as Williams would both fill a need and be a tremendous value for Baltimore here.

Williams, who came to Illinois as a highly recruited quarterback before shifting to wide receiver in 2021, led the Big Ten in receiving this past season. The St. Louis native was All-Big Ten first team, as he finished second in receiving yards, behind only Ohio St.’s Marvin Harrison Jr., who many believe will be the first wideout taken in this year’s draft.

His elite 2023 season was foreshadowed by the stellar way he ended his 2022 campaign. Williams was arguably the best offensive performer on the field when Mississippi St. beat Illinois in the Reliaquest Bowl on Jan. 2, 2023. It was the biggest game that Williams played in during his college career, and afterward, he spoke about the new role he was given and how well that worked for him.

“I was not just being used as a gadget (today), being able to run routes and get open, I got to show that I can create separation,” he said in an exclusive with The Sports Bank.

While it was in a losing cause, Williams conveyed that afternoon in Tampa how he truly has the clutch gene. The Illini team captain was the only player in the nation with two game-winning touchdowns in the final minute or overtime this past season. He also left school as the leading receiver in the Power 5 for players with eligibility remaining.

One thing the Ravens receiving corps could use more is YACs, a forte of Williams. He led the Big Ten and ranked 10th in FBS in yards after catch with 553, per PFF, during the regular season,

He’s also a chain mover, as his 48 first-down receptions ranked 14th in the nation (2nd in the Big Ten) during the regular season

In addition to all that, he’s got tremendous character. He was a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Man of the Year Award and a nominee for the AFCA Good Works team.

“Not only is he a good football player, but I think he’s an exceptional person with great leadership qualities,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said after Williams made the switch from quarterback to receiver.

“He’s lightning in a bottle, just a very active, natural receiver. He’s an exceptional player.”

 

 

LSU offers 2026 DB from Texas

Brian Kelly is hard at work on the 2026 recruiting class. Recently, he offered a defensive back from the Lone Star State.

[autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] is hard at work on the 2026 recruiting class. Recently, he offered a defensive back from the Lone Star State.

[autotag]Isaiah Williams [/autotag]is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound defensive back from Missouri City, Texas, where he plays for Fort Bend Marshall High School.

The Fort Bend Marshall Buffaloes finished the 2022 season 12-2 with a loss to Port Neches-Groves in the Quarterfinal round of the UIL 5A D2 playoffs.

Texas is currently a 26% favorite to land Williams per On3.

Film Analysis: Williams is a defensive back that is not afraid to come up and lay a lick on a running back in run support. He will be fun to watch going forward.

FILM

Week 6 preview: Iowa Hawkeyes versus Illinois Fighting Illini discussion with Illinois Rivals insider

Week 6 sees the Iowa Hawkeyes take on the Illinois Fighting Illini. Some Illini insight from a discussion with an Illini insider at Rivals.

As the Iowa Hawkeyes get ready to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini this Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT, the game appears to be shaping up as an old-fashioned Big Ten slug fest.

To get up-to-speed on the upstart Illini who are surprising some with their rebuild, an insider from Rivals provided insight to some key items regarding the Illini.

The insider is one I have known for nearly a decade, was my college roommate, college football teammate, and one that is still a friend although providing he is coverage for the Illini.

The Illini insider is Jonah Puls. Find him on Twitter (@JP_UIRivals) for all things Illinois. From football, to basketball, to even their highly-ranked golf team.

We discuss the Illini’s accelerated rebuild, a few players that could influence this matchup, dive into some advantages that each team has, and get into some predictions on who takes this Big Ten West matchup.

Jets cut OL Isaiah Williams

New York moving on from a reserve offensive lineman.

The Jets released a pair of offensive linemen Tuesday as they cut their roster down to 80 players. Among that pair of linemen was Isaiah Williams.

Williams spent most of his time last season on the Jets practice squad and stuck around for 2022 after signing a futures contract.

With the additions along the offensive line this season, including guard Laken Tomlinson, Williams simply became the victim of the numbers game on the offensive line.

The Jets were the eighth franchise Williams has been a part of since coming into the league with the Washington Commanders as a college free agent in 2016.

After the cuts of Williams and Caleb Benenoch, the Jets are down to 13 offensive linemen. The final cuts are due next Tuesday, as teams get to 53 players.

Jets waive 3 upon announcement of undrafted free agent signings

The Jets waived RB Austin Walter, OL Isaiah Williams and DB Zane Lewis upon announcing five undrafted free agent signings.

The Jets waived running back Austin Walter, offensive lineman Isaiah Williams and safety Zane Lewis after announcing five undrafted free agent signings.

New York officially announced NC State running back Zonovan Knight, Kent State wide receiver Keshunn Abram, IUP and former Penn State wide receiver Irvin Charles, Middle Tennessee linebacker DQ Thomas and safety Tony Adams as undrafted free agent additions.

Walter appeared in four games for the Jets in 2021, rushing 26 times for 101 yards and a touchdown. He scored his lone touchdown of the season in a win over the Texans and rushed nine times for 38 yards against Houston. Walter also took 14 carries and rushed for 49 yards in a Week 16 loss to the Buccaneers.

Williams was signed by the Jets just before the beginning of last season and spent 2021 bouncing back and forth between the practice squad and the active roster. The 6-foot-3, 296-pound tackle signed a reserve/futures contract with New York in January.

Lewis missed all of 2021 with a torn patellar tendon and sprained ACL suffered in August during joint practices with the Packers. Lewis caught on with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Air Force in 2020, but never appeared in a regular season game with the team.

Jets sign reinforcements, place Carl Lawson on injured reserve

The Jets signed DE Aaron Adeoye and OT Isaiah Williams after putting Carl Lawson on IR and waiving Corey Ballentine.

The Jets officially placed Carl Lawson on season-ending injured reserve Monday after the edge rusher suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last week.

Additionally, the team signed defensive end Aaron Adeoye and offensive tackle Isaiah Williams and waived cornerback/return specialist Corey Ballentine.

Adeoye was a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Southeast Missouri State who didn’t see NFL action until this past season. He played eight snaps in one game for the Ravens. He played for the Salina Liberty of Champions Indoor Football in 2017 before spending time in the Spring League and Alliance of American Football in 2019.

Williams joins the Jets after being waived by the 49ers earlier this month. He mostly played on San Francisco’s practice squad before being elevated to the active roster in Week 15 and 17 last year. Williams originally signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He jumped between Washington, the Chiefs, the Raiders, the Saints and the Ravens from 2016-2019. He also played for the AAF’s Atlanta Legends and the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers.

The Jets also worked out former Washington tackle Timon Parris and former Vikings pass rusher Jordan Brailford, according to Aaron Wilson.

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A look at the Big Ten leaders in total offense in 2020

Despite his struggles, Mertz still showed many great signs last season and he even cracked the top 15 of leaders in total offensive yards…

The Wisconsin offense had many high and lows last season, much like the play of redshirt freshman quarterback Graham Mertz who dealt with injuries during the turbulent 2020 season.

Despite his struggles, Mertz showed many signs of a bright future last season, and he even cracked the top 15 in total offensive yards per game from the Big Ten Conference in 2020. With an entire offseason under center as a starter and some time to get completely healthy, Mertz will definitely be one of the top quarterbacks to watch in the Big Ten this upcoming season.

Below is the ranking of the top 15 players in total offensive yards per game from the Big Ten Conference 2020 season. Players from Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Iowa and Illinois made the rankings.

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49ers roster moves: TE George Kittle’s practice window opens

The San Francisco 49ers opened TE George Kittle’s practice window in the first step of getting him off Injured Reserve.

The San Francisco 49ers have opened the injured reserve practice window for star tight end George Kittle. He will now have the next three weeks to practice with the team before head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch must decide whether to reinstate him to the active roster or leave him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

Opening his practice window before Week 15 gives the team some additional breathing room if they don’t make the playoffs. Kittle’s practice window will close when the season ends, so the 21 days will only come into play with a miraculous playoff run by San Francisco.

Kittle fractured his foot in the 49ers Week 7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but the team has remained hopeful that he could eventually make a return to the field. In 6 games this season, Kittle has hauled in 37 receptions for 474 yards and 2 touchdowns.

The 49ers also signed DL Alex Barrett, CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, DL Daeshon Hall, OL Aaron Neary and OL Isaiah Williams to the practice squad. Undrafted rookie TE Chase Harrell was let go from the practice squad.

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