BeeJay Williamson, S Louisiana Tech: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Williamson was a three-star recruit from John Horn High School in Mesquite, Texas in the class of 2018

Louisiana Tech safety BeeJay Williamson is only a redshirt junior, but the versatile defensive back and former special teams ace could declare for the 2023 NFL Draft. Williamson has the instincts and ball skills to change the momentum of games in an instant.

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BeeJay Williamson, S Louisiana Tech: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior safety from Dallas, Texas

Background: Williamson was a three-star recruit from John Horn High School in Mesquite, Texas in the class of 2018. He was the No. 898 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 851 for On3.com. Williamson was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked four-star recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. He amassed 150 total tackles (including 107 solo), seven interceptions, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries over his high school career. According to MaxPreps, Williamson produced 71 tackles, six passes defensed, two interceptions, and a blocked punt as a high school senior. He doubled as a punt and kick returner sporadically throughout high school. Williamson earned First-Team All-District honors as a junior and was a Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) Academic All-State Honorable Mention as a senior. The Texas native was born on Oct. 21, 1999.

2021 Production: 12 games, 52 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, 3 interceptions, 2 passes defensed, 1 touchdown

2020 Production: 10 games, 56 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 3 interceptions, 3 passes defensed

2019 Production: 13 games, 33 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack

2018 Production: 4 games, 2 tackles (Redshirt Year)

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2019 All-Freshman Team Conference USA, 2020 First-Team All-Conference USA, 2021 Honorable Mention All-Conference USA

Pros: Only five total penalties committed in 2020 and 2021, college positional versatility, extensive special teams experience on the punt coverage and field goal block units with mild experience on the kick coverage and kick return units, reads the quarterback’s eyes, spatial awareness in zone helps him transition between several routes, impact special teams player, quick to trigger on underneath routes, creative threat on interception return opportunities, high-effort player in run defense, plus ball skills, nose for the football, communicator on the backend for LA Tech, navigates traffic well mid-play

Cons: Age, undersized, long history of missed tackles, lacks physicality as a tackler and struggles to track players, tackling technique results in him sliding off hits, sometimes over pursues ball carriers and surrenders angles, good but not elite arm length, takes poor angles to the football, lacks sideline-to-sideline range, occasionally throws shoulders instead of wrapping up, lacks the twitch to consistently track and tackle agile players in small spaces, doesn’t have home run speed, size creates concerns when trying to defeat blocks, reaction time lacks suddenness, frequently juked in the open field

Overview: Williamson is unofficially listed at 6'1", 193 lbs. He has extensive experience shifting between the box, slot, and free safety roles. Williamson spent a lot of time in the slot in 2021, but the Texas native is playing more free safety in two-high and even some single-high looks in 2022. This role has eliminated some of Williamson’s ball production, but it allows him to keep his eyes on the quarterback and use his instincts to make plays. He lacks the range to play single-high at the next level and is still learning how to take proper angles from his position to the football. Williamson often takes poor angles to the ball, and he lacks the speed and twitch to make up for these errors with physical traits. Poor tracking and angles also amplify the defensive back’s issues as a tackler. Despite having good but not great arm length, Williamson slides off plenty of tackles or finds himself juked in space too easily. He’ll also throw his shoulder at ball carriers instead of wrapping up, and he doesn’t pack enough power into his frame to complete those tackles. Williamson’s undersized frame is also an issue when the fifth-year defensive back tries to shed blocks. He doesn’t have the agility to keep up with shifty players in space and will likely only see limited snaps as a slot defender at the NFL level. Williamson has extensive special teams experience and is fairly successful at making tackles on the punt coverage unit. He’s always looking to read the quarterback’s eyes. Williamson’s high-level ball skills and speed make him a threat to change the game’s momentum in an instant. He has the spatial awareness in zone to pass off and transition between several routes. Williamson is quick to trigger downhill and shows high effort in pursuit, he just struggles to finish the tackle. The All-Conference defender has a nose for the football, and he frequently stands out as a lead communicator in the secondary for LA Tech.

Overall, Williamson is an experienced, versatile defensive back with intriguing ball production, but his small frame, issues as a tackler, and struggles taking proper angles to the ball limit his ceiling as a prospect. Williamson’s success on special teams gives him a shot to land one of the final spots on an NFL roster.

Role & Scheme Fit: Third deep safety who occasionally steps down into the slot

Round Projection: Early Sixth to Early Seventh

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 09-30-22