TexasSports.com interviews Texas Longhorns sophomore offensive tackle Connor Williams about the team’s progress and goals during spring practice.
After the injury, he probably should come back. A final great season will cement his 1st round stock.
IF (big if) we could get ourselves into the championship game with, oh say BlowU, having Connor might put us over the top.
This was obvious when he chose not to have surgery. If he wanted to go early, he would have had surgery asap. Then again, maybe the surgery happened at the exact wrong time for him to show enough tape for the scouts and be healthy in time for tryouts.
If he does return, the OL next season might be something we could survive I am projecting on Trahore LT - Williams (Sr)/Okafor (Jr) LG - Vahe(Sr)/McMillon (Sr) C - Shackleford(Jr)/Cuney (Sr) RG - Hudson (So)/Rodriguez (Sr) RT - Traore(Jr)/Kerstetter(So)
Admittedly, I think the NFL product sucks and I no longer watch. But, how would a guy even as good as Williams be picked so highly next year when losing potentially an entire season in college due to injury? What if he actually sucked this year? That is what the NFL is looking for? No wonder I don't watch.
Last year after we saw potential high draft picks skip their teams' bowl games (perhaps a result of Jaylon Smith's career threatening knee injury), there was an argument that maybe these high picks should skip their final seasons altogether. If I were advising Connor Williams, who when the season began was a projected first round pick, I would tell him that when he gets healthy, start preparing for the combine. This team is NOT going to any championship game and possibly not to any bowl game. IMHO, he won't gain anything (except some fans on this board) if he comes back next year, and/or if he tries to come back toward the end of this season, play in a couple of meaningless games, and risk further injury.
If Williams comes back and we get Traore I would move Kerstetter to RG. He supposedly can play guard well.
There's probably little value for Williams to come back although the word I was hearing was that his performance, and thus his stock, had slipped since last year. Some players do come back but it's rare. They like the college experience (who wouldn't?) and many who have left early often discourage them. If Williams chooses to stay, outside of another O-Line catastrophe, I believe that this team could make a run at the Playoff. My biggest concern, aside from the OL, would be the DL. Now, if Williams, Jefferson, Elliott and Dickson all come back, we should have something very special. They always say that a team is "one year away." That often turns out not to be true. It wasn't in 2005, and the "one year away" 2008 team was better than the 2009 team that went to the Rose Bowl...IMHO. But, I am not counting on CW coming back.
The alternate thinking is don't attempt to come out coming off of a major injury. Generally that means at least 2 rounds slippage since until the hitting is live no one knows how the injury will hold up.
The AAS is still saying Williams will return next week FWIW, he is dressed out for Kansas but wont play
Honest question: why do you dress someone out when they won't play? I've heard this (seen) before so not just a Williams question. Just don't see the rationale. It's not like it will scare the opposing team.
If Williams is a sure top ten pick, he's got to go pro. NFL money can't be overlooked. Did I understand that he's getting his degree already? In finance? Not only will he make some good money in the NFL but he'll know how to keep some of it......