Andrew Williams – Noteworthy
Andrew Williams was never the guy at Auburn. The spotlight never shined directly on the 6-foot-4, 294-pound defensive tackle who – despite never being a starter during his Tigers career – appeared in every game over the last four seasons. That’s why last Friday’s pro day inside the Tigers’ indoor practice facility mattered so much to Williams. It was his opportunity to market himself to potentially interested NFL teams, in front of 56 scouts and three general managers, to prove he’s worth an NFL roster spot.”My selling point is I’m a hard worker,” Williams said. “I try to be the hardest worker in the room, and also I’m versatile. Anything you want me to do, play, learn – I’ll put 100 percent effort into doing it. I feel like that will take me farther, for sure.”
A former four-star prospect out of McDonough, Ga., Williams was the No. 232 overall recruit in the 2014 class and, at the time, a weakside defensive end. After redshirting during his first season on the Plains and adding some weight to move to the interior line, Williams worked his way into the rotation. He made his first career tackle at Kentucky in 2015, and after finishing with just four tackles that season he saw his role continue to increase. Williams had 13 tackles the following season, including 2.5 sacks, followed by a career-best 38 stops as a redshirt junior in 2017. Last season, his final one on the Plains, Williams racked up 16 tackles, with three for a loss. The numbers were never eye-popping, and Williams never complained about his role. He just went about his business and did what he needed to do to contribute. It’s the type of message he hopes resonates with NFL teams. – Birmingham News
