Tech’s Williams declares early for NFL draft
BY DON WILLIAMS l AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Depth in the defensive line was one of the strengths of the Texas Tech football team during the season just completed. Next year, it might be more necessary than the Red Raiders wanted or anticipated.
All-Big 12 Conference defensive end Brandon Williams, who almost set a school record with a league-leading 13 sacks in 2008, filed paperwork Monday to enter the NFL draft and plans to forgo his senior season.
“Me and my parents thought about it hard,” Williams said. “We just figured it was the best decision to make at this time.”
Williams’ sack total this year was one short of the school single-season high of 14 set by Adell Duckett in 2003. His decision to leave school ensures Tech, coming off an 11-2 season, will take early entry hits on both sides of the ball.
All-American wide receiver Mike Crabtree plans to announce his decision during a news conference today in Dallas. Though Crabtree has yet to comment publicly, his father told The Avalanche-Journal on Friday that Crabtree is going pro.
Michael Crabtree said his son decided to do so shortly after the Cotton Bowl. He received a favorable MRI result on a high ankle sprain on Friday, but Michael Crabtree said his son already had made up his mind before that.
To get ready for the April draft, Williams said he plans to begin working out today in Dallas with Crabtree. The two arrived together at Tech three years ago as part of the 2006 signing class.
Williams wasn’t a highly regarded recruit, but the NFL already was one of his goals.
“That’s the whole point of playing football is to go to the next level,” he said. “That was really my first thought, and plus school.”
Thursday is the deadline for underclassmen to petition the NFL to enter the draft.
Williams said his choice was a football decision. He said his family finances aren’t an issue, and he said he was on track to earn a degree in communication studies in 31/2 years. That would be in December, though that schedule would be interrupted if he’s an NFL rookie in the fall.
Underclassmen pondering early entry to the NFL can solicit an evaluation from an NFL draft advisory board without affecting their eligibility. Williams said the board told him he projected as a third-round draft choice. After that, Williams said he and his family took a little less than a week before he made up his mind on Monday.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “It was a real hard decision, choosing between school — school and football overall. I felt like this was the best decision.”
Williams’ departure hurts a Tech pass rush that produced 34 sacks, which tied for 18th nationally.
The Raiders rotated at least nine defensive linemen in every game this season and sometimes used 10 or 11. With Williams not returning in 2009, senior-to-be McKinner Dixon will be the returning sacks leader with nine.
Tech started Jake Ratliff and Williams at end. The Raiders used Dixon, Sandy Riley and Daniel Howard in the regular rotation and Brandon Sharpe on a more limited basis. Ratliff was a senior, but all the backups return. Redshirt freshman Ryan Haliburton from Frenship also will try to play his way into the rotation at end next season.
The 6-foot-5 Williams said he’s carrying 260 pounds. He was about 230 pounds when he signed with Tech out of Fort Worth South Hills High School. At the time, he looked slender and raw, but with plenty of talent and potential.
It all came together in a hurry. As a true freshman, Williams earned a role as a situational pass rusher and made 31/2 sacks. The next year, he registered six sacks and made second-team all-Big 12.
This fall, of his 13 sacks, seven came in Big 12 games: two each against Texas A&M and Texas, one each against Nebraska, Kansas and Baylor. He also might have helped himself with pro scouts by having two sacks and another tackle for loss against Mississippi in the Cotton Bowl.
Everyone knows Williams can rush the passer, though. He said he has to answer other questions.
“Probably just stopping the run. (To) get stronger is pretty much it,” he said of his objectives to prepare for the NFL.
Tech’s coaches are in Nashville, Tenn., for the American Football Coaches Association convention Sunday through Wednesday. Tech coach Mike Leach and defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill were not immediately available for comment.
uE06E Note: Former Tech receiver Eric Morris is training with quarterback Graham Harrell in Atlanta, Ga., in preparation for pro workouts. The two are working out under Chip Smith, who has trained more than 300 NFL players, according to his Web site. Morris has signed with an agent from Absolute Sports in Birmingham, Ala., his family said.
don.williams@lubbockonline.com l 766-8734
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735
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That’s one way to take your mind off the fact that you had your butt handed to ya in the Cotton Bowl….
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This is a huge blow to the defense. I am so mad this happened.
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Wouldn’t we all like the opportunity to make a million dollars. It is good for Brandon and good for Tech. High school football stars want to go to colleges that put players in the NFL. It will help Tech recruit those players who want to go to the NFL instead of going to other schools. Best of luck Brandon and thanks for giving us your best while you were here.
Guns-Up!
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hmmm – per above it is good for Tech & a big blow.
whoever leaves it’s still guns up , but it seems there’s fewer guns all the time.
and we thought the coaches were out recruiting – they’re partying in Nashville.
click your heels three times and say “guns up”. And poof, you’re not in Lubbock in any more.
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crabtree made the right decision, brandon did not. he needs another year under his belt………nice to see eric is going to give it a shot……..bet he is back in lubbock on the sidelines coaching one day…….
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Brandon needed to stay to get bigger and stronger for the next level. Maybe he sees the wheels are coming off the bus. Leach still has not signed his contract. I bet he doesn’t and will leave next year or the year after.
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i think it goes to show that the big 12 has some quality defensive players, but they usually don’t get the national attention of the offense. Williams is another example of a big12 school distributing talent to the NFL on the DEFENSIVE side of the ball
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WATCH THE COMPLETE AND BEST COLLEGE
FOOTBALL GAME OF 2008!
http://www.ioffer.com/i/81614346
GO RES RAIDERS IN 2009!!!
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Third rounders don’t make that much money unless they produce and get to that second contract. I’m sure Williams made the decision that was best for his circumstances. Hope all goes well for him.
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Good for him. Glad he decided to move on wish him nothing but the best. As for Leach who cares at this point…… The new contract supposedly gives him a 400k buyout same as before. To me that is stupid because Tech has to eat 40% of the remaining contract were they to fire him. Shouldn’t a coach be held to the same? That is the problem with coaching contracts they are to simple and easily bought out by a coach, but the university has to dish a huge amount. Leach can stay or go I hope he stays but the admin at Tech should really change the buyout part.
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Why doesn’t the NCAA make athletes who leave early for professional careers repay their entire scholarship?? It would be chump change to the athlete, and it could help pay for school scholarships in other areas or funding other sports. If something like this isn’t in place, it should be. This has been my issue long before these recent announcements. Makes perfect sense (just like a non-BCS championship), so I don’t think the NCAA will adopt it.
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Come on guys! Look at the big picture! These guys have always dreamed of playing on Sunday! Sometimes its not about money, but about seeing your dreams fullfilled…fruits of your labor! This is a good thing. The more NFL players TT produces, the better chance we get top rated players in Lubbock. Wish them well! This may be the best NFL draft TT has ever seen!
Go Raiders!!!
WrecK ‘em!!!
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“Why doesn’t the NCAA make athletes who leave early for professional careers repay their entire scholarship??”
Fred, that is a good question. I’ve got a question also: If a player transfers, he has to sit out a year before he can play at another D-1 School.
Why doesn’t the NCAA make a coach that leaves for another D-1 school before his contract is up sit out a year? That would cut down on this coaching chaos.
It’s funny. Players can’t make a commitment and then leave without a penalty, but coaches can blow off their commitment with a $400,000 buyout, which the school that is hiring him pays anyway. What a sweet deal . . . for the coach. No wonder the players feel exploited.
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thats right sam….. so if leach leaves before then oh well because if he has no more class than to fulfill his contract then we dont need him anyway…as for players it is taking a job more or less. scholarships should not have to be paid back more than likely they didnt get their degree anyway. i view as a years pay for a years work.
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This is sooo great for Tech!
Maybe we could become the beacon for all those guys that care nothing for the school itself , only $$.
Maybe Tech could get to the point that like 5 or 6 players from offense and the same from defense just stay a year or 2 (at most).
Same for coaches. Guys that had never head-coached before could get hired & just stay a year or 2 & move on!
Tech could get well know for that & catch that great national attention as a trend-setter!
Heck, we could sell our guns & just try “FINGERS UP!”.
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Mistake!!!!!!!!!!!!
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