INDIANAPOLIS — Baylor receiver Terrance Williams was asked a question he couldn’t answer: Which NFL quarterback would you most like to play with?
He could have said Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, his quarterback at Baylor. But then, Williams might not last until the Redskins’ first pick, which is 51st overall. Williams might have said Matt Schaub, who could be his future quarterback with the Houston Texans.The right answer, though, was for him to be as elusive as he is on the field.“There are a lot of good quarterbacks out there,” Williams said. “My take is basically anybody who decides to draft me.”Baylor has become “Wide receiver U,” with Williams sure to be the fourth receiver drafted into the NFL in the Art Briles’ era. Another BU wideout, Lanear Sampson, has a chance to go late in the 2013 draft.Williams follows David Gettis, Kendall Wright and Josh Gordon in continuing the newest Baylor tradition. Gettis was selected in the sixth round by the Carolina Panthers in 2010; Wright went 20th overall to the Tennessee Titans last year; and Gordon was a second-round supplemental pick in 2012.Williams could be a first-round choice in April and won’t get out of the second.“He can do a lot of things,” said C.O. Brocato, the Titans’ national director of college scouting who lives in Arlington. “He’s got good size and speed. He can really stretch the field. He got a lot of experience in college. He was very productive at Baylor. He improved every year. He adapted to a new quarterback and actually played better with Nick Florence than Robert Griffin III. He’s got tremendous upside.”Williams, a Dallas native, caught 97 passes for a nation-leading 1,832 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior last season. He has shown he can create separation, so his 40 time isn’t much of a concern as he had 34 catches of at least 20 yards and 16 that went at least 30.Williams, though, didn’t run a diverse route tree at Baylor. Most of his success came on vertical routes, which is why the position drills Sunday are important for Williams to show he is a good route runner.Baylor receivers coach Kendal Briles said scouts will fall in love with Williams once they see him work out.“He has one speed, and that’s full speed all the time,” Kendal Briles said. “He’ll run the same in pads as he will in shorts. He never gets caught from behind.“He works hard. He understands coverages. He’s got a knack for getting open. It’s something you can’t coach. He’s very knowledgeable about getting off the ball and adjusting his routes based on what he sees. He’s very efficient with his footwork. He knows how to get in and out of his cuts.”Williams started three seasons, two with Griffin and one with Florence as his quarterback. No matter who his quarterback is, Kendal Briles said Williams will succeed in the NFL.“He’s a quarterback’s best friend,” he said.Charean Williams, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @NFLCharean
