The Dallas Cowboys selected Ole Miss edge rusher as the 56th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Cowboys have a skilled, fast pass rusher who could be used quickly depending on the need.
Sam Williams was a top-rated junior college prospect in 2019 and his path to Ole Miss was through the JUCO levels. He was awarded first-team JUCO All American honors at Northeast Mississippi Community College with 17.5 Sacks, a talent that he brought with him to the Rebels.
He led Ole Miss in 2019 with six sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss and recorded an interception as well as a forced fumble. After being charged with sexual battery, he was suspended for part the 2020 season. However, the charges were dropped shortly after. He was back on the field again and led the Rebels with four sacks. Williams’ best season was last year. He tallied 12.5sacks, a school record, with 16 tackles for loss and forcing four fumbles. He was third-team AP All-American, and first-team All-SEC.
What NFL draft analysts have to say about Sam Williams
Lance Zierlein , NFL.com’s Edge Rusher, outlined the pros and con of Williams. He found many angles for the quarterback with his speed while also struggling to deal with strong blockers.
“Despite his troubling performance versus the run, Williams’ pass-rush flashes tend to leave a more lasting impression,” said Zierlein. “He was often overmatched and pummeled at the point of attack, failing to play with the effort and grit needed to stand up to SEC linemen. As a rusher, he gets off the ball quickly and attacks the pocket with the bend and hand work to gain entry into the backfield from a variety of angles. He projects as a potentially dangerous sub-package rusher who will need to get stronger and more competitive against the run if he wants to be considered for early down snaps.”