Tag: james williams

Watch: Titans’ Ran Carthon delivers life-changing news to five underdogs

Watch Tennessee Titans general manager break the news to five players that they embarking on a new challenge. Making the 53-man roster.

It has been no secret that the Tennessee Titans have had a changing of the guard over the past two years. First, the team hired Ran Carthon as general manager in 2023 to replace Jon Robinson. This was followed by a shocking move, firing head coach Mike Vrabel and transitioning to Brian Callahan. 

Carthon and Callahan have overhauled the roster almost totally in a very short period of time. They have also become more transparent with some of their behind-the-scenes moments. This includes the moment that five underdogs discovered their fate on cut day.

None of Andrew Rupcich, David Martin-Robinson, Thomas Odukoya, John Ojukwu, and James Williams knew what was about to transpire when they were summoned to the front office, and their emotions were all over the map. The sincerity of this life-altering moment for these players is apparent, and now they have a video to remind them of their journey. 

 

Titans rookie James Williams is flying under the radar

Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker James Williams is named a day-three rookie who is flying under the radar and can make an impact in 2024.

The Tennessee Titans selected linebacker James Williams out of Miami in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft. He wasn’t Mr. Irrelevant, but with the 242nd pick, he was in the running. Most of the time, players selected near the end of the draft are unknown and remain that way through their careers. Tom Brady is an exception, and every year, there are players drafted on day three who surprise us all.

This year, it seems Williams will be the guy flying under the radar for the Titans. No one notices him, but his impact on the field is noticed. CBS Sports actually named him one of five day-three rookies who could make a difference in 2024.

While he technically played safety at the University of Miami, his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame is better suited to linebacker. Speed isn’t his forte, and that’s something that’s needed at safety in the NFL, so it was a natural transition. From CBS Sports, in part:

What he does bring to every game is an intimidating nature en route to the football. And he sprinkles in some coverage chops and plus ball skills with his over 80-inch wingspan. He absolutely will miss some tackles. He’ll also de-cleat running backs more frequently than most young players at the position.

He has four tackles on 47 snaps this preseason and three have been constituted as “stops,” essentially meaning a negative play for the offense relative to the down and distance. Williams has yet to be targeted in coverage. While we didn’t get a full workout before the draft, and he only ran 4.65, Williams plays with zero hesitation and reckless abandon, and every defense can use a second-level defender with those qualities. The seventh-round pick should make this Titans team and contribute right away.

Williams has one more shot on Sunday to show what he brings to the table before the final 53-man roster cuts are made. But if he continues to play as he has during the preseason, there’s no reason to think he won’t be on the final list.

Titans-49ers preseason Week 1: Offense, defense and special teams snap counts

The Tennessee Titans won their Week 1 preseason game against the 49ers. Here are the snap counts on offense, defense and special teams.

The Tennessee Titans started their 2024 preseason with a 17-13 win against the reigning 2023 NFC champion San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.

After the 49ers scored a touchdown on their first drive, the Titans’ first-team offense responded with two consecutive scores and added a field goal in the second half to round out the scoring.

The Titans secured the win with an interception by linebacker Chance Campbell on the final play of the game.

Now let’s take a closer look at the snap counts that contributed to the Titans’ Week 1 preseason victory.

Offensive snaps: 71
Defensive snaps: 56
Special teams snaps: 19

Offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons led the team with 57 snaps, earning a nice long look from head coach Brian Callahan. Linebacker Chance Campbell, our Player of the Game after his win-sealing interception, was next up with 45 snaps.

The special teams rotation was certainly interesting with only linebacker James Williams and safety Mike Brown receiving double-digit snaps.

Overall, the Titans spread the wealth around with 19 more players taking snaps than the 49ers. It was a look for almost the entire roster and that film will help help the coaching staff make final decisions when it comes time to set the 53-man roster.

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Nebraska countdown to kickoff profile: No. 90 James Williams

The countdown to kickoff for the Nebraska Cornhuskers’ 2024 season is down to 90 days.

The countdown to the kickoff of Nebraska’s 2024 season is down to 90 days as the Cornhuskers go through summer conditioning preparing for their season opener against UTSA, Cornhuskers Wire profiles redshirt sophomore defensive lineman James Williams.

A 6-foot-5, 235-pound defensive end, Williams is entering his second season with the Huskers after playing in four games in 2023. Williams in his four games played in 2023 flashed potential, racking up two sacks and four tackles.

Prior to arriving in Lincoln, Williams spent one season at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He was dominant as a pass rusher, with 19 tackles, six sacks and seven tackles for loss. After that lone season, he made the decision to walk-on with the Huskers.

Despite being a walk-on, Williams has played his way into being a name to know at defensive end for the Huskers.

While he’s not necessarily expected to have a huge role within the defense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Parkville, Missouri native see time on the field this fall as part of the Huskers rotation at defensive end.

Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.

Titans draft pick James Williams ready to learn new position

After playing safety in college, Titans draft pick James Williams will try his hand at a new position in the NFL.

With one of their seventh-round picks in the 2024 NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans selected safety James Williams out of Miami.

While he played safety in college, the 6-foot-4, 231-pound prospect started working at linebacker down at the Senior Bowl in February — and that’s exactly where the Titans plan on playing him in the NFL.

“It is a good adjustment,” Williams said. “I have to do some learning, have to start over from square one, like I have to learn football all over again. But I am ready for it, embracing it, and ready to put my talents on display. I’ll try to do everything I can do to make this team great.”

While the Titans do have a need for more depth competition at safety, the same can be said for the linebacker position, where the team added North Carolina linebacker Cedric Gray in the fourth round. The hope is that Gray will not only start, but also wear the green dot.

Williams will have to earn his spot on the roster in training camp, and he’ll have a role on special teams if he does. Whatever the case may be, Williams is just happy to be in Nashville.

“It’s a blessing,” Williams said. “Only God can control where I went, and it so happened He chose for me to be in Nashville. I am glad to bring my talents to where He wants me to be.”

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2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated first round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

The 2024 salary cap is set at $255.4 million.

The Ravens will look drastically different on both sides of the football field after undergoing massive changes in player personnel and the coaching staff.

Eric DeCosta started the off-season with urgency, signing Justin Madubuike, one of the league’s best defensive linemen, to an extension. After inking Madubuike to a deal, Baltimore landed Derrick Henry for two years and $16 million.

However, the Ravens suffered significant free-agent losses. Patrick Queen (Steelers), Geno Stone (Bengals), and Gus Edwards (Chargers) were among eight free agents to sign elsewhere. Baltimore also traded Morgan Moses to the Jets and released Tyus Bowser in a cost-cutting move.

With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we’re reviewing an updated first-round mock draft.

2024 NFL mock draft: Quarterbacks, wide receivers dominate first five picks

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and with Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated two-round mock for all 32 NFL teams.

2024 Eagles mock draft roundup: Philadelphia reloads at cornerback position

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Philadelphia has needs, but after a strong start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 22) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits believe the Eagles will reshape the secondary by targeting a cornerback.

With Top 30 visits starting to increase, we’re looking at an updated mock draft roundup for Philadelphia at pick No. 22.

2024 Ravens mock draft roundup: Baltimore reloads at offensive tackle

We’re looking at the updated mock draft roundup for Baltimore as the Ravens rebuild the offensive line

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits believe the Ravens are set for a rebuild in the trenches.

With the Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking for updated options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

Vikings 2024 7 round mock draft 6.0: Trading Justin Jefferson for QB of the future

What would a Minnesota Vikings 7 round mock draft if they traded Justin Jefferson to the New England Patriots to get third overall? Tyler Forness explores the wild possibility.

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of different ways they can go in the NFL draft. There will be some discussion on what needs are most important but the Vikings can address most of them through both free agency and the NFL draft.

Each week throughout the leadup to the NFL draft, I will be doing different seven-round mock drafts for the Vikings as a way to explore different scenarios. You never know who might fall to you and how that could cause a ripple effect and being ready for those situations is paramount come draft weekend.

In the second rendition of our seven-round mock draft series, what could a draft look like that has the Vikings trading Justin Jefferson to get the quarterback of the future at third overall?

Mock Draft 1.0
Mock Draft 2.0
Mock Draft 3.0
Mock Draft 4.0
Mock Draft 5.0