High School and College Career

Dorian Williams, a promising linebacker from Indian Land High School, joined the Green Wave of Tulane University after graduating high school. In his freshman year in 2019, Williams played in five games and took part in 77 snaps, recording five tackles and three assists.

As a sophomore in 2020, Williams played in 12 games and participated in 527 snaps for the Green Wave. He improved vastly from his previous year, recording 61 tackles, making two pass breakups and had a QB rating when targeted of 72.5, which showcased his ability to nullify the opposition’s passing game. As a pass rusher, he was a force to reckon with, recording 12 total pressures, including 3 QB hurries, 4 QB hits, and 5 sacks in the year.

Williams’ growth continued into his junior year in 2021, where he played in 12 games and contributed on 577 snaps. He recorded 54 tackles, three pass breakups, had no interceptions, and had a QB rating of 122.8 when targeted. As a pass rusher, he was not as prolific as the previous year, producing 9 total pressures, including 8 QB hurries, one QB hit, and no sacks.

In 2022, Williams played in 13 games, logging a total of 772 snaps for the Green Wave. He had a fantastic senior year, recording 85 tackles, three pass breakups, two interceptions, and a QB rating of 84.6 when targeted. Williams was a dominating force as a pass rusher, producing 22 total pressures, including 9 QB hurries, 7 QB hits, and 6 sacks on the season.

Dorian Williams Scouting Report Introduction

Dorian Williams led the American Athletic Conference in tackles during the 2020 season and established himself as a respected leader within the Tulane program.

One of Williams’ standout physical traits is his sturdy and muscular frame, which boasts good length and large hands. He has the athleticism necessary to drop into coverage and pursue the ball to the sidelines, although his angles can sometimes be inconsistent. When searching to cut off routes and flow outside the tackles, Williams is capable of closing distances quickly thanks to his hot motor.

Despite some areas that could use improvement, Williams has developed into a fairly reliable tackler with an impressive resume on special teams, having amassed over 700 reps across four seasons. However, he struggles to take on and play through contact, with poor balance when taking on blocks and a below average ability to deconstruct them. This is somewhat surprising given his experience as a MIKE linebacker and raises doubts about his ability to become an effective starter at the next level.

While Williams has made his fair share of plays in college, he is not necessarily an overly instinctive player in coverage or playing downhill. That said, he is rarely completely out of position and shows potential for improvement with experience. His trigger is often a tick delayed, but he has the physical makeup of a starter and could benefit from getting stronger, playing faster, and developing his instinctive abilities.

Overall, Williams is an impact special teamer who can provide depth at linebacker on defense. While he may not yet be ready to take on a starting role at the next level, with the right development and coaching, he has the potential to become a valuable asset for any team that takes him on.

Strengths

Williams is able to quickly change directions and move down the line to make tackles or disrupt plays. This is a valuable asset for any defensive player, as it allows them to be effective in a variety of situations.

One aspect of Williams’ play that is particularly notable is his physicality. His size and strength make him a formidable opponent for any offensive player. He’s a technique tackler who wraps up opponents and brings them down. He has good height and a muscular build, with long arms that give him an advantage in tackling. He also possesses good overall athleticism, including straight-line speed to chase down ball carriers.

However, there are areas where Williams needs to improve in order to reach his full potential. Specifically, he needs to get stronger in order to be more effective at the point of attack. Additionally, he is often unpolished mentally, lacking in overall technique and consistency with his instincts and anticipation.

Despite these areas for improvement, Williams does possess some impressive skills when it comes to coverage. He has excellent awareness in zone coverage, meaning he is able to read the field well and make smart decisions about where to be on the field.

Overall, Dorian Williams has many of the physical and mental tools necessary to be a standout defensive player. While he still has room to grow and improve, his talent as a sideline-to-sideline playmaker and physical force on the field make him a valuable asset for any team.

Weaknesses

His hustle is inconsistent, which will be a major red flag for some teams. Another area where Williams could improve is his change-of-direction ability. While he may be adequate in this regard, there is room for growth.

Williams has a tendency to lose his balance too often in the open field, which could pose a problem when trying to get past defenders.
Another area where Williams falls short is his speed when it comes to chasing and tackling. He lacks the quickness necessary to be an effective pass rusher.

While Williams does move well laterally, he doesn’t always get there in pursuit. This means that he may struggle to catch up to opposing players who are running toward the sidelines, potentially allowing them to gain more yardage than they otherwise would.

Dorian Williams is the 126th prospect on our draft big board.