10 Fringe Prospects Who Boosted Their Value at the NFL Combine

Joe Williams, RB, Utah

Profile: 5’11”, 210 lbs., 30-3/4” arms, 9-3/8” hands

There is a running back from a school in Utah that has been whispered about for a long time in NFL Draft circles, who goes by the name of J. Williams. It’s not this guy, but Joe Williams of the Utah Utes might be just as good as the other one and has much less buzz.

Utah’s bell-cow back broke out in his senior year in a big way -- he went from 10.4 carries per game last year to 23.33 carries per game in 2016, all while upping his yards-per-carry mark by 150 percent (from 4.59 to 6.70). Sure enough, Williams’ breakout year vaulted him into the top 20 of FBS running backs with over 200 carries in terms of raw yardage, and he actually exploded into the top five of the same in rushing yards per attempt.

He showed that at the Combine, too, posting the best 40 time for running backs -- a stellar 4.41. His 4.19 short shuttle was also a position-best, adding a smooth 7.19 three-cone to go along with it, a 35-inch vertical and 10’5” broad jumps. His off-field story is an odd one, but as long as Williams can stay on the gridiron, he could do some work.

Williams’s best comparables by our Sim Score are Marshawn Lynch (94.13%), Joseph Addai (93.63%), and Kory Sheets (93.35%).