Despite NFL Combine snub, Debo Williams knows 'I belong for sure' at next level
A program record 11 players from South Carolina attended last month’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. Eight were from 2024’s “historic” defense but there was one notable omission.
Despite putting together some solid years with the Gamecocks, linebacker Debo Williams never received an invitation to the combine. When looking at the projections, he’s not as high as some of his teammates on NFL Draft boards. He’s most likely looking at being a day-three pick or undrafted free agent at the next level.
While he didn’t get to go to the combine, Williams was still able to show what he could do in front of all 32 teams at South Carolina’s Pro Day.
“It’s always a blessing to do what you love, man,” Williams said. “We come out here and compete and just get better every single time we’re out here. It’s a blessing to be able to go to the next level and get ready for that.”
Williams participated in every event on Tuesday. He ran a 4.87 at the 40-yard dash, 4.44 on the shuttle run and 7.71 on the 3-cone drill. He also logged a 9-4 broad jump and 31.5-inch vertical. But his performance in the weight room was where he stood out the most.
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Bench pressing 225 pounds, Williams finished with 32 reps, which was the most amongst his teammates who participated. Looking at the bigger picture, though, he did six more reps than any linebacker did at the combine.
“I’m always going to come and compete,” Williams said on what he hoped he showed at Pro Day after not being invited to the combine. “Not even that I belong, I know I belong for sure. I’ve been playing in the SEC for four years, so I feel that’s the best conference in the nation. So if you can compete with those, I know for sure.”
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Over his four-year stint at South Carolina, Williams played in 51 games with 27 career starts. He finished with 225 career tackles, including 18.0 tackles for loss with 3.0 sacks, four pass breakups and eight quarterback hurries.
Williams’ best season came in 2023 when he earned First-Team All-SEC honors after recording 113 tackles, the third-most in the SEC. His tackling numbers dipped last season as he finished with 63 in 2024. But his overall numbers have shown what he’s capable of doing.
“Sometimes you have to just stay in your lane and understand that it’s unfortunate that he didn’t get a chance to go,” defensive coordinator Clayton White said on 107.5 The Game at Pro Day. “I do think he definitely had a career to where he should have been able to showcase his talents at that level.”
The NFL Draft will take place at Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers, from April 24-26. There should be plenty of Gamecocks hearing their names called over those three days next month. But regardless of what happens to Williams, he knows he’s done all he can to put himself in the best position possible.
“We all got our own stories, and it’s already written, so no worries,” he said.
