Today we take a look at my top ranked defensive player entering the 2020 season.
2 -- DE Milton Williams (RS JR) -- Williams signed with Louisiana Tech in the 2017 recruiting cycle over offers from SFA, New Mexico, and Tulsa. What a find he was. He's from Crowley HS in Crowley, TX, the same HS as 2019 signee Mykol Clark. Clark is who going to be a huge DE as well.
Williams 6'4, 230 pounds coming out of HS. He's now up to 271 pounds.
As a RS FR in 2018, Williams played 15 snaps over 3 games. He recorded 3 tackles.
There were plenty of questions marks entering 2019 surrounding the DL. However, every time I mentioned Milton Williams, there was never a concern. I didn't know if I should believe it or not, he was a RS SO who was on tap to start at DE with pretty much no experience on a DL that needed some guys to step. Milton Williams was ready, he was a big time player in 2019.
In 2019, Williams played 79% of the snaps on defense. He earned a 72.6 overall PFF grade. He earned an 80.7 grade against the run, and a 60.0 grade against the pass.
In 13 games, Williams had 59 tackles, 9 TFL, and 5.5 sacks. PFF credited him with 35 total QB pressures (most on team), 15 QB hits, and 13 QB hurries. He was also 2nd on the team with 36 STOPs, which is "Defensive Stops - tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense."
Williams best game of the season came against Southern Miss when he generated 9 QB pressures, 4 QB hits and 5 QB hurries. He also had 2 sacks against Miami in the I-Bowl.
Following the season, Williams was named Honorable Mention All-CUSA.
What is the outlook for Williams entering 2020? He's going to play at least 80% of the snaps once again, I expect he'll make a jump to 8-9 sacks, possibly 13-14 TFL. I think Blackwell is going to put him in more favorable spots to rush the passer in 2020. Diaco didn't ask him to do much in terms of being a pure pass rusher and allowing him to try and fly around the edge. It also wouldn't shock me to see Blackwell slide Williams inside on some 4-man fronts to allow his athleticism to take over against some centers and guards. Williams is also Tech's best defender against the run returning in 2020. At worst, Milton Williams will be a 2nd Team All-CUSA selection.
In 2022, Milton Williams will be another DL selected into the NFL from Louisiana Tech.
Thoughts on Milton Williams?
2 -- DE Milton Williams (RS JR) -- Williams signed with Louisiana Tech in the 2017 recruiting cycle over offers from SFA, New Mexico, and Tulsa. What a find he was. He's from Crowley HS in Crowley, TX, the same HS as 2019 signee Mykol Clark. Clark is who going to be a huge DE as well.
Williams 6'4, 230 pounds coming out of HS. He's now up to 271 pounds.
As a RS FR in 2018, Williams played 15 snaps over 3 games. He recorded 3 tackles.
There were plenty of questions marks entering 2019 surrounding the DL. However, every time I mentioned Milton Williams, there was never a concern. I didn't know if I should believe it or not, he was a RS SO who was on tap to start at DE with pretty much no experience on a DL that needed some guys to step. Milton Williams was ready, he was a big time player in 2019.
In 2019, Williams played 79% of the snaps on defense. He earned a 72.6 overall PFF grade. He earned an 80.7 grade against the run, and a 60.0 grade against the pass.
In 13 games, Williams had 59 tackles, 9 TFL, and 5.5 sacks. PFF credited him with 35 total QB pressures (most on team), 15 QB hits, and 13 QB hurries. He was also 2nd on the team with 36 STOPs, which is "Defensive Stops - tackles that constitute a "failure" for the offense."
Williams best game of the season came against Southern Miss when he generated 9 QB pressures, 4 QB hits and 5 QB hurries. He also had 2 sacks against Miami in the I-Bowl.
Following the season, Williams was named Honorable Mention All-CUSA.
What is the outlook for Williams entering 2020? He's going to play at least 80% of the snaps once again, I expect he'll make a jump to 8-9 sacks, possibly 13-14 TFL. I think Blackwell is going to put him in more favorable spots to rush the passer in 2020. Diaco didn't ask him to do much in terms of being a pure pass rusher and allowing him to try and fly around the edge. It also wouldn't shock me to see Blackwell slide Williams inside on some 4-man fronts to allow his athleticism to take over against some centers and guards. Williams is also Tech's best defender against the run returning in 2020. At worst, Milton Williams will be a 2nd Team All-CUSA selection.
In 2022, Milton Williams will be another DL selected into the NFL from Louisiana Tech.
Thoughts on Milton Williams?
