FAYETTEVILLE — D.J. Williams was surprised he was still on the board early in the fifth round of the NFL Draft. So were the Green Bay Packers, who took the former Arkansas tight end with the 141st pick of the draft Saturday.
“I really thought I was going to be off the board when Miami came up in the fourth [round],” Williams said. “It was a long wait.”
Williams, 6-2 1/2, 245 pounds, was considered a “tweener”type of player, a somewhat undersized tight end who can play blocking back and H-back.
“I do understand that my size was an issue,” Williams said. “I’m not going to let it hold me back.”
Williams, the Mackey Award winner as the nation’s top tight end, was one of two Razorbacks drafted Saturday along with offensive tackle DeMarcus Love, who went to Minnesota in the sixth round as the 168th overall pick.
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Four other players with Arkansas also were picked on the draft’s final day.
In the sixth round, Tulsa tight end/fullback Charles Clay (Little Rock Central) was taken by Miami (174th pick) and Central Arkansas outside linebacker Markell Carter by New England (194).
In the seventh round, Arkansas State offensive tackle Derek Newton was taken by Houston (214) and Auburn offensive tackle Lee Ziemba (Rogers) was taken by Carolina (244), where he’ll be reunited with quarterback Cam Newton.
Williams, who led the Razorbacks with 54 receptions for 627 yards and 4 touchdowns last season, would do well to follow the lead of Keith Jackson, the last Packers tight end from Little Rock.
Jackson was a nine-year NFL veteran and six-time Pro Bowl pick who helped Green Bay win Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.
The Packers have five tight ends listed on their roster, including starter Jermichael Finley, who is coming off an injury, but they still couldn’t resist the allure of Williams.
“He has probably the best hands of any tight end in the draft,” Green Bay tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said. “The guy is a good football player. He may not have the best measurables. He may not be the tallest guy. He may not be the longest guy. He may not be the fastest guy. But when you turn on the tape, he’s one of the best players on the field.”
The Packers took two tight ends in the draft, adding North Carolina’s Ryan Taylor in the seventh round.
Williams, the top tight end and No. 2 receiver ever at Arkansas with 152 receptions for 1,855 yards and 10 touchdowns, sounded ready to compete for a roster spot.
“I know they have a stud[Finley] coming back who was injured,” Williams said. “I’ve never been scared of competition in front of me.”
Williams was an Arkansas team captain as a senior and the winner of the Disney Spirit Award as college football’s most inspirational figure after he spoke out about his abusive childhood in Dallas, which led to his family’s relocation to Little Rock.
McAdoo said the Packers got to visit with Williams for a good length of time at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“I think he’ll fit in well. He’ll be great in the locker room. He’s a strong character guy,” McAdoo said.
“Not only is D.J. Williams a tremendous player, but he is a great person who comes from a tremendous family,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement. “D.J. has worked extremely hard to develop his entire game, which will serve him well in the NFL. He is a great ambassador for the University of Arkansas and is an example of what it means to be a Razorback.” Information for this article was contributed by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette staff writer Bob Holt.
Sports, Pages 27 on 05/01/2011