Short in stature, Jack Williams stands tall on the field, especially when it comes to shutting down opposing receivers and coming up with the big plays.

He is an elite draft prospect from the Mid American Conference. One of the fastest defensive backs in this class, he has become a true game-changer from his spot in the defensive backfield.

Not only does Williams possess excellent quickness and leaping ability, pound-for-pound, he is one of the strongest tacklers in the league. He has earned "Elite Flash" status for prowess in weightlifting, speed and agility over the last two winters.

Williams was an All-State selection as a senior at Booker T. Washington High School. He also earned All-Region and All-Tidewater accolades. The two-time All-District pick lettered three times in football as a defensive back and also saw time as a receiver. As a senior, he had 10 interceptions and scored 10 touchdowns.

In 2003, Williams enrolled at Kent State. He redshirted, earning team Outstanding Defensive Scout honors from the coaching staff. The following season, he started five games at left cornerback, recording 27 tackles (16 solo). He broke up four passes and picked off two others, returning one 99 yards for a touchdown vs. Iowa, a school record. He also blocked a punt.

As a sophomore, Williams started all eleven games at defensive halfback. He posted 63 tackles (41 solo), fifth on the team, as he caused and recovered a fumble. He broke up nine passes and intercepted four others while also delivering a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Williams started 10 of 12 contests at defensive halfback in 2006. He totaled 62 tackles (40 solo) and was used more on the blitz, coming up with three sacks, six stops for losses and two pressures. He tied for the national lead by causing five fumbles, recovering four while also deflecting four passes. He had four interceptions, returning one for a score and averaged 20.3 yards on six kickoff returns.

As a senior, Williams earned All-Mid American Conference second-team honors. He missed the Temple game and the second half of the Northern Illinois clash with a shoulder sprain suffered making a tackle vs. NIU. He produced a career-high 93 tackles (70 solo), ranking second on the team. He added 6 ½ stops behind the line of scrimmage, recovering two fumbles and causing another. He picked off three passes, knocked down eight others and averaged 23.5 yards on four kickoff returns.

In 44 games at Kent State, Williams started 37 contests. He recorded 245 tackles (167 solo), three sacks for minus-26 yards, 14 ½ stops for losses of 53 yards and a pair of quarterback pressures. He caused and recovered seven fumbles and also blocked one punt. He deflected 25 passes and gained 209 yards with two touchdowns on 13 pass thefts (16.1-yard average). He also returned twelve kickoffs for 252 yards (21.0-yard average).

Positives: Lacks size, but is well-built for a smaller cornerback, showing proportionate muscle definition, tight skin and tapered thighs and calves … Has exceptional quickness and leaping ability, along with good timing to get to the pass at its high point … Has rare timed speed and the ability to start and stop suddenly … Runs with good balance in his stride, sinking his hips and getting a clean break on the ball … Even though he has some tightness in his upper body, he has loose enough hips and good ability to redirect, using an explosive burst to close on plays in front of him … Has a flare about him, playing with good confidence and, despite giving up considerable bulk, he will not hesitate to take on offensive linemen in attempts to blitz … Smart player who shows good zone-coverage awareness and playing instincts, doing a very good job taking plays from the chalkboard to the field … Self-starter who learned every secondary position to become more of a leader on the field … Performs fine in the classroom and also displays field intelligence and is quick to anticipate the throw and when he zeroes in on the ball, he won't shy away from contact in attempts to make the play … Can be physical on the perimeter and is not afraid to put his face in the pile or stick his hat into a blocker's chest in attempts to clog the rush lane … Relentless blitzer who will bounce back quickly when blockers knock him down and has the ability to make plays coming around the corner … Competes well for the ball in flight and is an overall productive player with the natural hands and extension to reach and pluck the ball outside his frame and good hip shake and burst to gain yardage on the interception return … Hard worker in the training room, winning team honors for his weightlifting performances … Has become more of a vocal leader and can read his keys and diagnose plays … Displays good discipline and awareness in play-action and misdirection, showing the acceleration to get back and make plays on deep throws … Played a lot of zone coverage and has good knowledge of his surroundings doing a solid job of anticipating routes … Shows good transition ability out of short backpedals and has good foot quickness to mirror the receiver, even though he doesn't play much man coverage … Productive player in zone defense, showing good awareness and discipline and the ability to ride and read for disguise in zone assignments, with good reaction … Possesses good ball skills, as he has the ability to adjust to balls in flight and come down with the tough interception … A bit of a ball hawk with good makeup speed and range, he is consistent closing on plays in front of him … Shows good acceleration across the field to keep up on shallow and intermediate routes … Has good ability to leap and adjust to balls in flight with his back to the quarterback … Turns and adjusts to the ball with suddenness, showing good ball skills and body control, doing a nice job of reaching up and over a receiver to break up the pass without drawing a flag as the result … Possesses natural hands and can pluck balls out of the air that are high and away from his body … Catches most balls on which he gets two hands … More of a low tackler, but will stick his face in there when the opportunity arises … Good striker who will lay out to bring down the ballcarrier.

Negatives: Has good body lean and upper-body muscle tone, but is not the biggest and he struggles to ward off bigger blockers when working in run force … Could use additional upper-body bulk, but more weight could impact his overall quickness … Was durable until recently, battling ankle and shoulder problems throughout 2007 (shoulder still might not be fully recovered) … Plays defensive "halfback" in the Golden Flashes' system, spending more time in the zone and attacking the ball than in man coverage … Appears to possess only adequate man-coverage skills, as he has the speed to run stride for stride with the receiver, but lacks good technique, as he doesn't always use his hands effectively in attempts to reroute and is susceptible to double moves … His feet are often little tangled at the top of routes in man coverage, and he bails early on deep backpedals (does show good hips to turn and run, though) … Willing, but shows only adequate ability in run support, as he doesn't separate from blockers well (needs to be more active using his hands and must learn that it is best to slip and avoid bigger blockers) … Struggles without the size needed to check elite receivers and while in run support, where he struggles to disengage when blockers get into his body … Sometimes gets overconfident with his foot speed, allowing a big cushion underneath and he doesn't have the second gear to recover quickly when his man gets behind him … Has had good success on the cornerback blitz at this level of competition, but will likely get engulfed by blockers at the next level (must show better avoidance skills).

Compares To: AARON GLENN-New Orleans … Williams lacks the return ability Glenn showed in his prime, but both rely on quickness , ball reaction and range to make plays on the ball. Williams is a physical tackler, but because of size issues, he can be absorbed by bigger blockers when trying to lend run support. He had a subpar senior campaign due to shoulder problems, but what concerns me most about him is his lack of bulk. What might scare off a few teams is that he showed up weighing 186 at the NFL Combine, but several weeks later at Kent State's Pro Day, he checked in at 177. Williams is well worth the investment of a mid-round draft pick. He brings considerable experience playing the ball and he should match up well vs. slot receivers in a sub package.

2007: Suffered a shoulder sprain/contusion in the second quarter vs. Northern Illinois (11/10), sitting out the second half and the entire Temple game (11/17).

Campus: 4.32 in the 40-yard dash … 1.46 10-yard dash … 2.51 20-yard dash … 4.13 20-yard shuttle … 6.61 three-cone drill … 41-inch vertical jump … 10'5" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 18 times … 390-pound bench press … 590-pound squat … 343-pound hang clean … 31 ¾-inch arm length … 9 5/8-inch hands … Ambidextrous … 18/23 Wonderlic score.

Combine: 4.43 in the 40-yard dash … 1.48 10-yard dash … 2.53 20-yard dash … 6.91 three-cone drill … 35 ½-inch vertical jump … 10'1" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times.

Attended Booker T. Washington (Norfolk, Va.) High School, playing for head coach Larry Stepney … All-State selection … Also earned All-Region and All-Tidewater accolades … The two-time All-District pick lettered three times in football as a defensive back and also saw time as a receiver … As a senior, he had 10 interceptions and scored 10 touchdowns.

Leisure Studies major … Son of Remedios and Paul Blankenship … Born 3/27/85 … Resides in Norfolk, Virginia.