Scooby Williams is a 6 ‘2, 230-pound linebacker and has been a leader for the Texas A&M Aggies stifling defense. He came into college as a blue-chip recruit, ranked 90th overall in his class and labeled as a four-star out of Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Alabama. Williams was a big factor in accomplishing Texas A&M’s first college football playoff appearance in school history, recognizing plays on the line of scrimmage and being the vocal veteran leader for a young, promising defensive group, even when he was injured, which was more common than he would have liked it to be. Williams represents the rare four-year collegiate career, with the athletic frame and patient presence in the linebacker role, despite his lack of physical traits.
Williams recognition of plays and coverage, specifically in zone coverage, are the areas where he shines as a linebacker. Misdirection can be a negative on his recognition and execution of plays, especially in plays where there are multiple wideouts in motion. In the Notre Dame game, his assignment was Eli Raridon, but did not follow his assignment because he bit on the misdirection of the wide receivers. The execution also is not there in screen plays because of the lack of physicality and competitive toughness in his game, as he has a tough time shedding blocks to get to the running back, quarterback, or receiver with the football, while also being on standby against tackles. Going along with that his tackling is below average, supporting a 20 percent missed tackle rate, which is one missed tackle every five attempts. This is by no surprise, though, with the lack of physicality and having a great sense of patience, as running backs will explode off the line leaving Williams with the sense of having to engage contact in physicality instead of being technique based. Mobile quarterbacks such as Riley Leonard in 2024 and other mobile aggressive quarterbacks he has struggled against because of his overcommit on plays.
In the coverage department in passing plays, he is seen as a linebacker who is good in that area, having a great sense of where tight ends are, what his assignment is, and supporting speed off the line against running backs who can physically outmatch him. He did have an interception in the Notre Dame game, so he also has a great sense of where the quarterback is going with the ball and where to be at to capitalize on it. He is somewhat of a liability against speed and power running backs, as they will be ahead of the sticks if targeted against Williams, as you see with Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love. In the passing game, his tools are neglected due to his patient approach and being used as a quarterback spy, and it is nonexistent when used as an edge rusher, as it just creates gaps for the running back or quarterback instead of using it to his advantage. Lastly, in the running game he can be a bigger threat than in the passing game because of his patient approach and his filling of gaps and ability to deny backs from scoring and creating explosive plays, as you saw against Missouri specifically and also against Notre Dame, blitzing freely and pushing them back out of field goal range in a close matchup.
Overall, Williams is a technique based linebacker that can stop the run, has great coverage ability, processing and mental recognition of plays, but lacks the physicality of tackles and backs and the tackling side of things, which is huge for a linebacker to have, it makes or breaks their career.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit: 3-4 Linebacker / Hybrid QB Spy
For the Baltimore Ravens, Williams would be a great fit given their approach of using linebackers as edge rushers, and they have had great success developing linebackers such as Trenton Simpson, Patrick Queen, and Roquan Smith. With someone like Williams showing the ability to cover space and control the quarterback spy while also getting to the quarterback, it is a perfect match. For the Cowboys, they are already showing interest in Scooby, and with the new staff moving to a more multiple defense look, which Scooby can fit in, he will fit their need for a linebacker, someone who can handle space while rushing the quarterback and having success. He reminds me a lot of Leighton Vander Esch in his frame and athleticism, just not as skilled, as Williams is more patient. The Philadelphia Eagles may not be the best fit, as the Eagles linebackers are usually quick and elusive to receivers and in the running game, but the development of the Eagles linebackers is what could put Williams in a good situation to learn and develop from Vic Fangio, one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, who developed guys like Zack Baun, TJ Edwards, and Jihaad Campbell.
NFL Player Comp: Zack Baun
Much like Baun, Scooby had transitioned from an edge role to a linebacker role, with off-ball ability. Both have had great success when used as blitz linebackers in passing situations, especially with Williams’ ability to time the snap, but they do struggle with the physicality of the position, particularly when trying to shed off a defender.
Projection: Special Teamer/Developmental Depth
Given his lack of physicality, he does not fit the traditional good linebacker mold, but his mental processing, athletic frame, and zone-coverage ability give him a chance to become a good depth linebacker for NFL teams. Another big concern is his injury history, having a long history of injuries throughout college, and being labeled as injury-prone.
Grade and Round Projection: 4.14 / Round 6
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