Trojan Draft Evaluation Reports
by Jeremy Shapiro, WeAreSC
Leonard Williams – Defensive End – Junior
Measurements: Height: 6’5” - Weight: 302 pounds - 34 5/8” Arm Length - 10 5/8” Hands
Stats
2014: 80 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 1 interception, 3 pass break ups, 3 forced fumbles
2013: 73 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 punt block
2012: 64 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 8 sacks 1 interception
Combine Results: 40-yard dash: 4.97 - Vertical Jump: 29 ½” - 3-Cone Drill: 7.59 -20-yard dash: 2.88 - Broad Jump: 8’10” - 10-yard dash: 1.73 - Shuttle: 4.53
Strengths
- Freakish athleticism for his size
- Unblockable one on one
- Scratching the surface on his potential
- Quick burst to beat interior linemen
- Incredibly long arms, svelte 300 pounds
- Flashes pursuit speed to catch players from behind
- Powerful hands
- Explodes out of his hips
- Capable of playing anywhere on the defensive line
- Technique can be sloppy
- Hasn’t even filled out his frame
- Gets caught standing up too often
- I don’t care if you were a water girl, coach, Pat Haden or fan—Leonard treated them all with respect and sincerity.
- Very rough childhood, father is in prison.
- Jovial, humble and modest
- Leads by example
- Played on a high ankle sprain against Stanford and dominated. Played with a torn labrum in 2013.
- Against Run: 9
- Pass Rush: 9
- Pursuit: 9
- Tackling: 9
- Initial Quickness: 10
- Recognition: 8
- Neutralizing Blocks: 9
- Key and Diagnose: 9
- Production: 10
- Mental Toughness: 10
- Elusive in the open field
- Can stop on a dime
- Displays acceleration
- Balanced route-runner
- Catches the ball at its highest point
- Explosive game-breaker
- Natural hands
- Instinctive, student of the game, tireless worker
- Susceptible to drops
- Wiry frame with limited bulk
- Disappointing UCLA game film
- Lacks sideline awareness
- Inability to regularly break tackles
- Not a strong run blocker, struggles against press coverage
- Moved from Lagos, Nigeria to Tampa when he was five.
- Student of the game who has a burning desire to be great
- Gregarious man who is friends with everyone.
- Coachable, confident player
- Hands: 8
- Patterns: 9
- Run after catch: 9
- Blocking: 7
- Release: 8
- React to ball and crowd: 8
- Initial quickness: 9
- Acceleration: 9
- Production: 9
- Mental Toughness: 8
- Incredibly muscular frame
- Press corner who is physical at the line of scrimmage
- Attacks on the ball and can tackle in space
- Capable of shadowing the best wide receiver
- Can play corner or safety
- Quick feet and fluid hips
- Student of the game, quiet confidence, leads by example, durable
- Struggles with shifty, speedy receivers
- Questionable ball skills
- Lapses in judgment
- Not a shutdown corner
- Shaw was caught in a highly publicized lie at the beginning of the season, but this was an isolated incident that does not define him as a person. He is a high character person and football player. Quiet, hard working student of the game who will be a starting cornerback in the NFL for a long time.
- Man-to-man coverage: 8
- Zone coverage: 7
- Closing quickness: 8
- Key and diagnose: 7
- Lateral pursuit: 7
- Tackling: 9
- Pass Drop: 7
- Pass Coverage: 9
- Production: 8
- Leadership: 8
- Three down running back
- North-South, one-cut runner
- Muscular build, consistent workhorse
- Good leg drive, generating yards after contact
- Soft hands out of the backfield
- Reliable pass blocker
- Focal point in pro-style offense
- Patient runner with strong initial burst
- Peripheral vision and ability to find openings
- Quicker than fast
- Upright runner
- Doesn’t finish runs with power at times
- Displays hesitation and indecisiveness
- Does not possess breakaway speed
- Buck was in Kiffin’s doghouse in the 2012 season, but he took advantage of his opportunity and never looked back.
- Buck established himself as a top-shelf running back in 2013 and 2014.
- He will have a long, prosperous NFL career
- Inside Runner: 8
- Outside Runner: 7
- Elusive Runner: 7
- Power Runner: 8
- Blocker: 9
- Hands, Routes: 9
- Durability: 9
- Leadership: 8
- Production: 9
- Mental Toughness: 8
- Productive, four-year starter
- Stout against the run
- Sideline-to-sideline tackler
- Patient, instinctive and disciplined
- Little wasted movement
- Violent hitter who finishes tackles
- Durable, two-year captain
- Can play inside, weak side linebacker and special teams
- Can have difficulty getting off blocks
- Gets beat by bigger tight ends in coverage
- Doesn’t have make-up speed on seam routes
- Does not have violent hands
- Not a game-changing player who will cause turnovers and sacks
- Hayes was the heart and soul of the Trojans defense for the past two years.
- Vocal leader who will positively contribute to the locker room.
- Policy, planning and development major. Spent time in Haiti building homes with teammates; contributes to the community
- Versus Inside Run: 8
- Versus Outside Run: 7
- Blitz/Pass Rush: 6
- Key and Diagnose: 7
- Lateral Pursuit: 7
- Tackling: 8
- Pass Drop: 6
- Pass Coverage: 6
- Production: 9
- Leadership: 10
- Gets off the snap quickly
- Relentless motor
- High-energy player
- Powerful hands and light on his feet
- Played defensive end and outside linebacker
- Plays with a chip on his soldier after coming into USC as a three star recruit
- Gets consistent pressure on quarterbacks
- Fundamentally sound technique
- Showed consistent improvement
- Undersized for a defensive end, but slow for an outside linebacker
- Liability in pass coverage
- Lacks closing quickness
- Battled injuries during career
- Genuine, coachable, smart and has tenacious work ethic.
- He played defensive tackle, defensive end, but has found a home at outside linebacker.
- Tavai is a crafty, deceptively athletic player who will carve out a nice career for himself.
- Versus inside run: 8
- Versus outside run: 7
- Blitz/Pass Rush: 8
- Key and diagnose: 7
- Lateral pursuit: 6
- Tackling: 8
- Pass Drop: 6
- Pass Coverage/Hands: 6
- Production: 8
- Leadership: 9
- Great size for the position
- Moves well and has solid hands
- Can seal the edge and create running lanes
- Gritty player who plays through injuries
- Deceptive, savvy movements to find creases in the defense
- Plagued with injuries during his career
- Needs to fine tune his route running
- Not a huge threat in the passing game. Never was the clear cut top tight end for USC
- Randall’s a standup guy and a leader who never really put it all together at USC, because of injuries and play calling.
- Well liked by teammates, coaches and the entire football staff.
- Well-spoken and received his bachelor’s degree in political science.
- Hands: 7
- Patterns: 7
- Receive Long and Short: 6
- Run after catch: 7
- Blocker: 8
- Release: 7
- React to ball and crowd: 7
- Initial Quickness: 6
- Production: 6
- Leadership: 8
- Blazing speed. George was the fastest player on the team last season.
- Big, muscular frame
- Strong and willing blocker
- Solid hands
- Father played in the NFL—good pedigree
- Disappointing production
- Poor lateral agility
- Plagued by injuries
- One trick pony, but can blow the top off the defense.
- George was a 5 star recruit and the number one receiver in the nation when signed with USC.
- Had a rough injury history and could be a more productive player in the NFL. His physical tools are intriguing enough to warrant a late round draft pick.
- Hands: 7
- Patterns: 7
- Receive long and short: 8
- Run after catch: 6
- Blocking: 8
- Release: 8
- React to ball and crowd: 7
- Initial Quickness: 7
- Production: 5
- Leadership: 7
- Tremendous size and thick frame
- Possesses upper and lower body strength
- Shows flashes of dominance
- Gifted skill set
- Latches on to defenses and finishes blocks
- Propensity to get to the second level
- Played offensive guard and both tackle positions
- Inconsistent player
- Struggles with speed rushers
- Sloppy technique
- Lack of balance and poor hand placement
- Erratic in pass protection
- Lacks standout work ethic
- Seems uninterested at times
- Walker has shown flashes of brilliance during his career at USC, but never lived up to his full potential.
- The offensive line coach must light a fire under him.
- Had a very strong season in 2013 and was a huge reason why the Trojans rushed for 173 yards per game on 4.5 yards per carry.
- Initial Quickness: 6
- Run Block: 8
- Pass Block: 6
- Pull and Trap: 7
- Use of Hands: 7
- Strength: 9
- Explosion: 6
- Production: 7
- Mental Toughness: 5
- Leadership: 5
