STRENGTHS - An aggressive and highly competitive defender, Williams is a disruptive player who impacts the game against the run and rushing the passer. While he lacks the elite initial quickness that makes NFL team's drool, he has a good enough first step, maintains leverage during rush and uses hands extremely well to jolt pass blocker. He has the strength to jolt and drive the OT backwards into the QB's lap, can free up and pressure/sack the passer. On running plays away he is a dominant force as he constantly gets inside head up blocker (Whether it is an OT or TE), keeps blocker on bck and closes quickly down the LOS to make the tackle. Able to bend knees and sink hips, Williams does an excellent job taking on run blockers with base/leverage and good hand-use, which allows him to anchor, lock-out, shed and make the tackle on runs to his side of the field. Although I believe he is best suited to play defensive end in a 43 scheme, he has a lot of experience lining up in a 2-Pt OLB stance. He looked comfortable dropping off the ball into pass coverage and showed excellent awareness/instincts/assignment-recognition in the games evaluated.
WEAKNESSES - Thickly built with a big lower body, Williams does not have the sleek looking physique "on the hoof" that NFL teams prefer in a pass rusher. He succeeds rushing the passer throughout excellent use of hands, good playing strength and great competes, but his lack of elite explosiveness and change of direction ability will hinder his ability to defeat the better pass blocking OT's consistently. He has not shown the ability to explode in the other direction after changing directions, which limits his pass rushing production when he does a good job of setting himself up with a "two way go." Although he is a smooth athlete with good chase speed for a defensive end, I do not feel he has the quick twitch athleticism and explosive closing burst that is ideally suited to playing outside linebacker in a 34 defense - He could be solid, but not special. Williams must do a better job of using his hands to protect his legs from low/cut blocks.
SUMMARY - While Johnthan Cyprien grabs most of the attention for Florida International, Tourek Williams is a very good college player who has the tools to play in the NFL also. A strong and physical player, Williams tough, hard-nosed playing style often helps 43 DE's / 34 OLB's who lack premier athleticism to become productive starting players. Although many defensive ends do not do well on special teams, I believe Williams has the aggressive and nasty playing attitude to help him be productive on the punt and kickoff coverage units. Overall, Williams will not be a high draft pick due to the aforementioned lack of explosiveness and top end speed. However, I think he would be a good fifth round pick by a team that plays a 43 defense and is looking for a strong-side defensive end. In a few seasons I could see him playing in the 270 range and starting at power defensive end, where he would be a dominant run defender and good, power based pass rusher.