Derrick Williams' performance in the Senior Bowl proved what the player's former coach already knew: He's two or three players for the price of one.
Despite Williams' North squad losing to the South, 35-18, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., on Saturday in the 2009 Under Armour Senior Bowl, the former Penn State wide receiver had a game-high 124 all-purpose yards with his catching, rushing and returning.
Eleanor Roosevelt High School football coach Rick Houchens, who coached Williams in high school in Greenbelt, Md., said Williams' performance was "good" considering the amount of touches he had.
"I think all the other GMs and coaches know that he's capable and has shown on tape that he's very versatile," Houchens said. "That's definitely a huge difference right there. Derrick has had such a great track record at returning kicks and punt returns for touchdowns."
One play that caught the attention of NFL draft analysts was Williams' 44-yard kick return that set up the North's first touchdown.
Scout.com NFL Draft analyst Chris Steuber likened Williams to the Philadelphia Eagles' DeSean Jackson. He said both are multi-dimensional athletes and Williams can be used in the Wildcat formation and take direct snaps and be used on bubble screens.
The all-around talent combined with Williams' receiving abilities has Steuber thinking he has a chance to be taken in the second round. But he added his exact selection might depend on Williams' 40-yard dash time at February's NFL Combine.
"With a guy like Derrick, speed is his game," Steuber said. "If he runs a low 4.5 and maybe should run a low 4.4, it could drop him back a round. But Derrick is among the top [receivers] at this point."
Fellow draft analyst Dan Shonka of Ourlads.com said while the 6-foot Williams isn't a big target, his explosiveness as both a receiver and returner make him "one of the most talented receivers" in the 2009 class. He finished his career ranked No. 5 in Penn State history in all-purpose yards with 4,516.
Earlier in the week, Williams struggled in fielding punts, the analysts said. But Shonka said it was windy and his proven capabilities all around the field make him attractive to teams.
One game Shonka and Houchens referred to was the Iowa game. Although Penn State lost, Williams was used in a variety of formations and plays. He had 12 rushes, four receptions, three kick returns and one pass against the Hawkeyes.
Before the 2009 NFL Combine starts on Feb. 18, Shonka said Williams has to improve his overall route running. But because he said Williams has all the tools, he said his return strengths could also carry over as a wideout in terms of making potential tacklers miss him in the open field.
Steuber and Houchens added Williams, who had 485 receiving yards and three return touchdowns this season for Penn State, has good promise as a receiver at the next level. Steuber said Williams' field vision and ability to see the hole makes him a threat to break open a play anytime he has the ball.
"I know that kid like he's my own son," Houchens said. "When he gets to that combine -- barring injury -- that's when he's going to show up. That will raise his stock even more. He had a great senior year and did a lot of things."
