Plant High graduate may enter a draft already strong at receiver.
By RICK STROUD
Published February 21, 2004
INDIANAPOLIS - The talented collection of receivers already at the NFL's predraft combine workouts promise to electrify crowds for years.
But it was the news that Southern Cal wideout Mike Williams had decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility to turn pro that had coaches and team executives buzzing at the RCA Dome on Friday.
Williams, the former Plant High standout, reportedly will petition the NFL for early entry into the draft.
If Williams follows through with that plan, the 6-foot-5, 230-pound All-America selection would be a certain first-round pick, perhaps among the top 10 prospects.
Southern Cal coach Pete Carroll contacted several NFL executives Friday to gauge where Williams might go in the draft.
Bucs general manager Bruce Allen spoke to Carroll's agent, Gary Uberstein, about Williams' decision. Because Williams has not applied for inclusion in the draft, however, team executives and coaches are prohibited from talking about the Trojans underclassman.
"Is he coming out?" Falcons GM Rich McKay said. "I hope he doesn't do it."
Williams, 20, who is 31/2 months younger than former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, would bolster a receiving class that is drawing comparisons with some of the best. The list of elite pass catchers includes Texas' Roy Williams, Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald, Washington's Reggie Williams, Louisiana State's Michael Clayton, Ohio State's Michael Jenkins and Wisconsin's Lee Evans.
"The guy is an awesome athlete. He deserves everything he gets," Clayton said of Mike Williams. "If he happens to do that, I'm all for it. Everybody is out here to prove to the world that they can compete in the NFL.
"It's almost like being a wide receiver overload with as many good receivers that are in the draft. I think a lot of coaches would be happy and a lot of teams would be happy, also."
One of those teams is the Bucs, who have a vacancy at receiver with the expected trade or release of Keyshawn Johnson. Tampa Bay owns the 15th overall pick in the draft, and Williams' entry could push some top receivers down.
Williams would not have been eligible under the NFL's former draft rules because he is not three years removed from his graduation date. But the landmark case won by Clarett in U.S. District Court in New York has made him eligible under the new guidelines. ESPN.com, which broke the story Friday, said Williams will discuss his decision with his family and has not filed the proper paperwork to the NFL.
Johnson was the No. 1 pick in the '96 draft class some consider the best ever, including Marvin Harrison, Terry Glenn, Muhsin Muhammad, Terrell Owens, Eddie Kennison and Eric Moulds. He said Williams' success might depend on whether he can produce speed with his 6-5, 230-pound size.
"Professional football is a tough level both emotionally and physically," Johnson said. "He has the physical gifts it takes; it seems everyone thinks he will be productive. But I don't know if he possesses the quickness to elude linebackers. A lot of people underestimate me and Terrell Owens and say we don't have the ability to get away. His speed could be a question, because I don't know how fast he is.
"I think it's a good move if it works for him. If it doesn't, he'll just be J.J. Stokes again. Or he could be Keyshawn Johnson or Terrell Owens."
Johnson said though he would have gone in the first round had he entered the draft as a junior, he wasn't ready to leave USC.
"(Williams) accomplished winning the national title," Johnson said. "That didn't happen for me and is why I came back to school. It wasn't based on money. I had not been at the university long enough."
Roy Williams returned to the Longhorns for his senior year and said he benefited from it. "It's just I wasn't ready for the NFL," he said. "I needed to improve my run blocking, of course, and running crisper routes and I think I got that accomplished."
Johnson said it's premature to compare the 2004 class of receivers with the '96 group.
"We'll see," Johnson said. "The class of '96 was an awful good class. You've got a lot of Pro Bowlers, a lot of guys who have been to the Super Bowl. Some have Hall of Fame credentials going forward. It sounds good, all 6-4, 220 pounds, until Ray Lewis hits you."
