Mel Kiper Jr. says Alabama DL Quinnen Williams moving into conversation to be No. 1 pick
By Keith Farner
Published:
One of the biggest breakout stars in college football this season is Alabama DL Quinnen Williams.
He’s third on the Crimson Tide with five sacks, and also has nine quarterback hurries. In the 29-0 win at LSU in primetime, which likely drew a lot of NFL attention, Williams had a career performance against Tigers, with career highs in tackles (10) and sacks (2.5) while matching his career-best mark in tackles for loss (3.5).
ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” on Wednesday said Williams is surging toward the top of his big board and could challenge Ohio State’s Nick Bosa for the No. 1 overall pick in 2019.
“We thought Raekwon Davis would be the dominator (for Alabama), moving in for Da’Ron Payne and of course we had Jonathan Allen a couple years ago, but Williams is closer to Aaron Donald than I think Ed Oliver is,” Kiper said, according to 247 Sports. “He’s a third-year sophomore. I think Oliver from Houston was expected to be that (Aaron Donald) guy, but he’s not as big as Williams and of course he had the injury and doesn’t have the sack production Williams already has had with five. He could have eight or nine.
“Williams has been killing double teams. He’s a big effort guy. Great hand usage. He combines power with quickness. Quinnen Williams, the nose tackle for Alabama, has done a heck of a job and has really been the difference-maker up front for the Crimson Tide.”
This is something to watch as the Crimson Tide likely will play at least two more teams with solid offensive lines where Williams could add to his resume in front of a big national audience.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
