2023 NFL Draft: 11 prospects who could rise at the Senior Bowl

LB- Dorian Williams, Tulane (6-2, 230)

In an off-ball linebacker class riddled with mystery, many of the potential Day 2 picks in the class at the position will be in Mobile. There are at least eight off-ball linebackers heading to the Senior Bowl that have a chance at being selected between Rounds 2 and 4, but each of them has major questions to answer.

With the right week, any one of them could be crowned the biggest riser at the position, but Tulane’s Dorian Williams sticks out the most for his combination of athleticism and physicality. In the same way Tyjae Spears was the engine of Tulane’s offense, Williams was the key to the Green Waves’ defense in their memorable Cotton Bowl winning season.

A three-year starter, Williams totaled 316 tackles, 27 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, 13 passes defended, and 2 interceptions in his career. He was literally all over the field for them this season running wild with his hair on fire looking to smear every single ball carrier.

As a run defender, Williams reads his keys well and triggers downhill without a second spared when fitting the run. A ferocious tackler, he has a superb take on skills and the range to play sideline-to-sideline as a run defender. Overall, he needs to improve stacking and shedding blocks and cleaning up false steps, those are both something to watch for in Mobile during team drills.

Most importantly though, like many of these off-ball linebackers, seeing what he can do in coverage could make or break his week. Williams has the speed and fluidity to play in space but needs to show more eye discipline and not be overly aggressive when handling backs and tight ends. One-on-ones are a great place to prove he can be a starting Will in the NFL.