One player the Chiefs have shown interest in during the pre-draft process is Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams. So what makes him tick, and what makes the Chiefs so interested in him?
Kansas City spoke a lot with Williams during the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, meeting with him formally and talking with his agent Alex Gavilla. According to Williams, it was obvious the interview was going to go well from the jump.
“It was just a really good vibe,” said Williams. “When I entered the room, you could tell it was a room that they would welcome me in.
“I just knew it would be a good interview. Everything was chill, everything was laid back, everyone was laughing and just really talking football, taking about what I bring to the table and how I can help the organization out.”
With the departure of Kareem Hunt, it would not be surprising to see the Chiefs try and find another diamond in the rough RB in the later rounds. Williams could definitely be that player, as he showed NFL starter potential in only 257 attempts at Notre Dame.
In his senior season at Notre Dame, Williams took 158 attempts for 995 yards and 12 touchdowns. His speed and acceleration and great vision at the line of scrimmage make for a deadly combination, as evidenced by Williams’ 6.3 yards per carry average in 2018. But what really stood out to me watching his tape was the back’s surprising level of patience when looking for a rushing lane.
“It just really came over time and watching film on other guys,” Williams said. “What helped with my patience was watching a lot of tape of Le’veon Bell. Just trying to mimic things that he was doing, but at the same time just be me and maintain my own playing style.
“I know that I have the speed to break away, so really just being patient, being able to set up the block, put my offensive line in the right position to make the block and get the play going by maintaining my traction (helps) maintain the integrity of the play.”
That patient running style has helped earn Williams consideration as one of the top running backs in the 2019 draft class. Talent isn’t something that Williams will need to overcome at the next level, but Williams has missed games during his career at Notre Dame, which is a red flag, especially in the Chiefs’ case.
Williams was arrested in 2016 for possession of marijuana and possessing a handgun with no license. He was suspended four games for an unspecified violation of team rules to open the 2018 season. He was asked about the violations during meetings at the combine. Williams said he responded honestly about what happened to teams, and assured them that he made changes in his life that keep himself out of trouble.
Changing who he was around, changing his habits and even bringing his terminally ill mother Cheryl Williams to live with him this past season, helped Williams stay focused mentally and physically.
“Just watching my surroundings,” Williams said. “Replacing bad habits with good habits, being able to be responsible for my actions, knowing that I’m a person who always has an eye watching him…knowing how to be professional, making sure I’m being mature and handling all my situations like a man.
“I started opening myself up to a lot of my teammates and just really placing myself around people who can elevate me in life, and people who want to see me have a lot of success. Just have fun when it’s time to have fun.”
One of those times to have fun for Williams is when he’s on the field. His infectious personality, high energy level, and unusual love for Simply Orange juice (his favorite drink), earned him the nickname “Juice” or “Juice Man” in high school.
Whenever his teammates felt like morale or energy was low, they would call on the “Juice Man” to give them a boost.
“The energy I bring to the game, it’s indescribable I would say. A lot of guys feed off my energy and I know when I’m playing at the highest level it brings the other guys around me higher as well. It was a name that I took and I made it mine.”
The Chiefs have plenty of juice on their roster according to Williams, citing Tyreek Hill and Damien Williams as players who’ve “got the juice.”
Williams apparently grabs a lot of inspiration from Hill, as the RB took up Hill’s signature peace sign TD celebration late in the 2018 season. Williams busted the celebration out during a long TD run in a home game against Florida State.
“It’s something I recently picked up from Tyreek Hill,” Williams admitted. “I (saw) him do it, he broke out for like 50 yards and he threw up the deuce sign, he was looking at the guy and I was like ‘man I’m gonna do that.’ “I pulled it out, I told a couple of guys on the team I was going to do it and ever since then I would just (be) throwing up the deuces every time I was walking into the end zone.”
Williams will bring three things to whatever team decides to draft him: a unique energy, patience in the run game, and his mother (literally). According to Williams the Chiefs will get their money’s worth and a whole lot more if they draft him.
“If the Chiefs draft me they’re getting something special,” Williams explained. “Someone who brings a lot to the table. If the Chiefs draft me I’m going to give it my all. No matter what they ask for I’m going to do it 110 percent.”
