With the NFL draft coming tomorrow, this will be the final installment of 2011's Bulls in the Draft. That being the case, it's only appropriate that tonight we focus on the two players that have turned the most heads of NFL teams with their workouts: Jacquian Williams and Terrell McClain. McClain has been on several analysts' radars for a while, earning invitations to college all-star games and receiving accolades for his work on the field. Williams, on the other hand, didn't really start turning heads until after his playing days. His workouts and interviews were what made teams start looking at him. While we obviously hope to see all our players get picked, these two have the most realistic shot to get chosen in the draft.
An alum of Riverdale High School, Jacquian Williams isn't too far from home here at USF, but it hasn't always been that way. Out of High School, Williams took an opportunity to go to Fort Scott Junior College in Kansas where he saw great success. Over the two seasons he spent there, Williams racked up 132 tackles, 23 for loss, an interception, and a forced fumble on his way to receiving several honors, including Kansas Junior College and Community College Defensive Player of the Week. His last year at Fort Walton ended with Williams being voted a National Junior College All-American. After his graduation from Fort Walton, he came home to Tampa where he immediately saw the field, playing in all 13 games in his first season at USF. There weren't many stats to be admired after his junior season, but his leadership made it easy for his teammates to select him as a captain next season. His senior year, Williams started all 13 games at linebacker, picking up 71 tackles, three passes defensed, and an interception, including an outstanding performance at Miami.
Williams' performance on the field was admirable, but it was his performance at Pro Day that got people talking. His low 40 time was 4.53 seconds and his vertical jump was recorded at 36.5 inches. For a 6-3, 231 pound frame, those are excellent measurements to move that much mass. As a comparison, Akeem Ayers, one of the top linebacker prospects in the draft, ran his 6-3, 254 lb body in the 40 in 4.81 seconds, a significantly slower time. It would be wise of Williams to bulk up a bit before he steps onto a field, but I see a lot of success in his future.
Finally, we come to the main attraction: Terrell McClain. McClain won all-state honors at Pensacola High, and, again, didn't go too far from home to play his college ball. After receiving offers from Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina among others, McClain decided to stay close to his hometown and attend South Florida. He played in a rotate-in role at DT for his first year, but soon afterward he became a regular member of the defensive squad. In his sophomore season, he started nine games and recorded 32 tackles, the highest in a single season of his career. He also forced a fumble and had three sacks, also tied for career highs. He played in every game the next two years, starting all but two his junior season. Over those two years, he recorded 4.5 sacks, 8 quarterback hits, and a forced fumble, also having his career day at Miami in 2010. He capped off his excellent senior season with invitations to the East-West Shrine Game, and his performance there earned him an invite to play in the Senior Bowl.
At 6'2", 297 lbs, McClain was the only Bulls to be invited to the NFL Scouting Combine this year. He recorded 28 repetitions on the 225 lb bench press, which is impressive for anyone. I compare him most closely to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' first draft pick last year, Gerald McCoy. McCoy measured in at 6'4", 295 lbs, and recorded 23 reps on the bench, five less than McClain. If McClain can get his technique down, I see him with plenty of potential to go as high as a mid-second round pick.
It appears that some of the NFL coaches and staff also see the potential in these players, as Jacquian Williams got a lot of attention from Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith during Pro Day in Tampa, and McClain has been spending a lot of time talking with the executives of several teams, most notably Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. I'm glad the draft is finally here, so all this speculation can end and we can actually find out where these guys will really end up. We offer our good wishes to all players waiting to get that phone call this weekend that changes the lives of their entire families.
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