RB Dexter Williams, Notre Dame

5’11” – 212 lbs. – 4.57
Was a little-used reserve for the three years prior to 2018, totaling just over one hundred total touches during that span. Stepped into a major role as a senior, putting together a 158-995-12 line with sixteen receptions, although he missed about a month of games from late November to the team’s bowl game. Has a solid build for a pro running back and was the team’s leading rusher this past season, although his attempts constituted just over thirty percent of the team’s total rushing attempts. Took most of his carries out of the shotgun, but also has some experience in typical I-formations. Makes big cuts in the backfield and does a pretty good job of locating holes to knife through for gains of a few yards at a time. At his best when he’s working as a one-cut runner, stretching out the defense and finding cutback lanes to break through; good vision to identify them. Possesses good explosion through the hole. Capable of skinnying through congested spaces. Runs with a low center of gravity and, although he doesn’t break many tackles, has the ability to lower his shoulder and fight for extra yardage after contact, ending his runs by falling forward; good competitiveness and leg drive compensates somewhat for just average power. Has solid speed to pick up chunks of yardage when he finds a hole, although his timed speed was just average at the Combine; that came as a surprise, because he recorded carries of at least thirty yards in six of nine games played. Ball security is pretty good; fumbled just twice in college on nearly three hundred total touches. Wasn’t used very frequently as a receiver; caught just twenty-two balls over the course of his career, typically being retained in pass protection instead. When he wasn’t running your typical checkdown routes into the flats, showed a willingness to stick his nose in and engage opposing rushers from his feet. A ballcarrier who exhibits some impressive traits as a pure runner, with the quickness, burst, vision, and competitiveness to put together strings of consistent gains and a relatively high rate of big plays. However, may need to be part of a running back rotation, as he isn’t a proven receiver and didn’t manage to stay healthy throughout his only season as a primary runner. Interesting mid-round sleeper.