Jonah Williams responds to his NFL doubters: If my fingers were longer, I might be good enough
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Amazingly, there are some in NFL circles questioning if Jonah Williams can play offensive tackle at the game’s highest level.
Their concerns have nothing to do with Williams play on the field, the lineman started every game of his Alabama career spanning three consecutive seasons including his true freshmen season at right tackle, before declaring early for the 2019 NFL Draft after playing two seasons at left tackle. The concern some have for the unanimous All-American from Tuscaloosa centers around his arm length.
The 6-foot-4, 302-pound Williams had his arms measured in at 33 5/8 inches during his Wednesday measurement at the 2019 NFL Combine, which is apparently an issue for some around the league. While the NFL is known for often overlooking character issues, limitations in size sometimes draw the biggest red flags for franchises. While this issue isn’t going to kill Williams’ stock, it may move him down some draft boards in the coming weeks.
Williams was back at the Combine on Thursday, this time for the interview portion of his appearance, and it’s clear he took issue with anyone suspecting his arms prevent him from being an elite player.
“If my fingers were an eighth of an inch longer, it might be good enough,” Williams joked during his appearance:
“If my fingers were an 1/8th of an inch longer, it might be good enough” – Jonah Williams pic.twitter.com/b63MbaUTXx
— Anna Adams (@AnnaH247) February 28, 2019
The former Alabama standout also discussed how his arms aren’t likely to grow any longer:
Alabama OT Jonah Williams said he’ll play anywhere on the offensive line a coach asks him to, but you can tell he wants to play LT. Said his arms won’t grow any longer. pic.twitter.com/JclNOROlnD
— PewterReport ?☠️ (@PewterReport) February 28, 2019
Credit Williams for handling the criticism of his measurements in the best way possible. As he notes, some of the best linemen in recent NFL history had arms equally as long as his measured in at during the Combine. If that causes a team to pass him up in the draft, they’ll likely be regretting that decision soon enough.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
