Report: Colts Met Virtually with Syracuse DB Trill Williams Recently Before the NFL Draft

According to The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, the Indianapolis Colts met virtually (or will meet) with Syracuse defensive back Trill Williams recently before the 2021 NFL Draft:

The 6’2”, 198 pound junior defensive back recorded 23 tackles (14 solo), a tackle for loss, an interception (returned for a touchdown), and 4 passes defensed during 5 games (4 starts) before being hindered by an ankle injury and opting out to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Here’s Williams’ scouting report via ‘The Draft Network’s’ Joe Marino:

Trill Williams was a steady presence in the Syracuse secondary since 2018 where he spent time at wide corner, slot corner, and at safety. While he is versatile and has appeal in any role, I like him best at wide corner. Williams is long, rangy, athletic, physical, and aggressive. His physical skill set is exceptional and he doesn’t have any restrictions. He is springy and explosive, capable of thriving in both man and zone coverage. With that said, he does have room to grow when it comes to anticipatory skills and there were some instances where he didn’t get his head around to the football with his back to the line of scrimmage. He had three return touchdowns in his three seasons in college and has a knack for coming up with big plays. For a team looking for a versatile defensive back that can be a matchup-neutralizer, Williams has the physical gifts to do that. There is immense potential when it comes to the roles he can fill in the NFL and the ways he can make an impact.

Having made The Athletic Bruce Feldman’s ‘2020 college football Freaks List’, Williams is also quite the athletic specimen at defensive back:

16. Trill Williams, Syracuse, defensive back

Freakiest attribute: Velocity

His teammate Andre Cisco is the guy who gets more of the headlines in their secondary, but Williams (38 tackles, three forced fumbles in 2019) has emerged as quite a talent too. Atrilleon (his given name) is a big, rangy dude at 6-2, 215 pounds. He vertical jumped 40 inches and has been clocked at a laser-timed 4.34 in the 40. Williams, up about 20 pounds since last year, also has benched pressed 225 pounds 17 times.

Here’s what else they’re saying on Williams:

Williams is another ‘Swiss army knife’ defensive back that the Colts have already been connected with as part of the team’s pre-draft prospect evaluations.

He can play cornerback, safety, or cover the slot, so he would have potentially tremendous versatility for the Colts secondary—with the ability to match up all over the field.

It also helps that Williams is a tremendous athlete—featuring speed, athleticism, and power, which would enable the Colts to really utilize his range and ‘velocity’ on the football field.

He has elite straight-line speed, plays downhill, and has the type of physicality to be a difference-maker at defensive back—potentially laying out opponents. Fortunately for the Colts, he’s more adept in zone than he is in man coverage, as he needs to continue improving his change-of-direction skills in space—where he’s not always so fluid.

The Colts like their defensive backs to be versatile—with the ability to perform more than one function and perform them all relatively well. Indy’s young, talented defensive backs such as Kenny Moore, Khari Willis, and Julian Blackmon are all recent reminders of this.

Given his versatility, production, and outstanding athleticism, Williams strikes me as a defensive back who could sneak into being a ‘Day 2’ pick—and should be no later than an early ‘Day 3’ selection come late April/early May.

The Colts could use an upgrade at their third safety spot—and overall nickel safety, as well as additional slot insurance for Moore (especially with veteran T.J. Carrie as a free agent).

Williams is an intriguing defensive back given all the unique ways he can line up defensively to help a football team ultimately win games—most notably, when in combination with the caliber of freak athlete he projects to be at the NFL level.