NFL Combine workout live blog, Day 2 — tracking Kyren Williams’ performance
Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams hears the discussion around his NFL role. Specifically, he’s conscious of the idea floating around that he might be best as a situational player on third downs.
He passionately swatted it away during his NFL Combine media session on Thursday. A strong combine workout performance Friday might deal it another blow.
Williams and the other invited running backs will work out at the combine Friday afternoon and evening, beginning at 4 p.m. ET. Workouts will be televised live on NFL Network. Friday is also workout day for offensive linemen and specialists, but no one from Notre Dame at those positions was invited to the combine.
Williams said he plans to participate in every drill except the bench press. He hopes to impress like Irish wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. did during his workouts Thursday. Austin ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39-inch vertical jump. Additionally, 2021 Irish quarterback Jack Coan went through workouts Thursday, running a 4.9 40 and throwing routes on air.
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Williams entered the combine in the top five of most 2022 NFL Draft running back prospect rankings. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the No. 4 back. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler slotted him at No. 5.
All told, Williams is considered a likely Day 2 pick. He declared in December as a three-and-done after rushing for 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games last season. He also caught 42 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns. He took over as the Irish’s starter in 2020, rushing for 1,125 yards and 13 scores while adding 35 catches. He redshirted as a freshman in 2019. He was the first Notre Dame running back to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons since Darius Walker from 2005-06.
Notre Dame signed Williams as part of its 2019 class out of St. John Vianney High School in St. Louis. He was the No. 299 overall player in the country, per the On3 Consensus, and a mid-year enrollee.
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Earlier Friday, Williams was measured at 5-9 and 194 pounds with 28 5/8 inch arms and nine-inch hands. He was listed at 5-9 and 199 pounds on the Notre Dame 2021 roster.
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Follow along with this live blog throughout the afternoon and evening that will be updated with Williams’ combine results.
Live updates: NFL Combine Day 2 workouts
10:26 p.m. ET: ESPN Draft analyst Matt Miller tweets he’s hearing zero running backs will be running shuttle drills Friday.
10 p.m. ET: Official 40 times come in, and Williams’ is 4.65 seconds, last among the 27 running backs who ran it.
9:05 p.m. ET: Running back on-field workouts begin with handoffs through an obstacle course.
8:59 p.m. ET: Williams runs a 4.70-second (unofficial) 40-yard dash on his second attempt, which is 26th out of the 27 running backs who ran.
8:33 p.m. ET: Williams runs a 4.72-second (unofficial) 40-yard dash on his first attempt.
8:10 p.m. ET: Running back 40-yard dashes begins.
8:05 p.m. ET: Williams logs a nine-foot, eight-inch broad jump.
7:50 p.m. ET: Williams vertical jumps 32 inches.
7:30 p.m. ET: Running back drills begin.
4 p.m. ET: Offensive linemen begin the workout portion of the day by running the 40-yard dash and going through drills. Running backs will follow later in the evening.
