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This past season Purdue had two of the better corners in the Big Ten. Both guys were proven multi-year starters that could end up drafted this weekend. Naturally, Greg Hudson often had them playing with a 10 yard cushion on most passing downs. This was none more apparent than the 35-28 loss to Bowling Green, when Hudson sold out against the big play only to let Matt Johnson, a quality quarterback, carve the Boilermakers up for 402 yards on 43 completions. The Falcons rarely got a big play, but converting first downs was rarely difficult and sustained drives were the norm.
That's what makes evaluating a guy like Williams so difficult. Clearly, he and Anthony Brown have talent or they wouldn't be considered as draft prospects. Like many other players under Darrell Hazell and his coordinators, that talent was grossly, even criminally, misused.
Frankie Williams - CB
5'9", 186 pounds
19 bench press reps at 225 pounds
4.49 seconds 40-yard dash
Vertical Jump: 33.5 inches
10 career interceptions
Strengths
Williams had an excellent career for a very bad team. That is the best way to sum up his time in West Lafayette. He started as a redshirt freshman for Danny Hope in 2012 and played in almost every game in his career. In 2014 he was a second team all-Big Ten selection and had a total of 74 tackles and three interceptions. One of those picks was a long return for a touchdown against Iowa. As a senior he was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection with 47 tackles and three more picks as teams played away from him. He served as Purdue's primary punt returner and averaged eight yards per return.
Williams' best attribute is his experience. He is not a "wow" type of corner, but he will make the smart play and is a sure tackler. He was a decent punt returner but it seemed like Hazell often went away from him instead of using him more there.
Negatives
Williams is a smaller corner and could potentially make a move to safety a lot like his predecessor, Ricardo Allen. While solid, he is not that impressive compared t many other corners and because of the ridiculous schemes he was playing in for most of his career it is hard to judge his true talent. It is difficult for any corner to look good when he is playing 10 yards off the line of scrimmage on 3rd and five and the receiver in front of him makes an easy 7 yard curl for the first down.
That's what could end up hurting Williams and relegate him to undrafted free agent status. He was often playing so far out of position at the snap it hindered his true ability.