'The Panel' feature: Williams' versatility may pay off with Round 1 pick
But there's a unique charm that comes with playing cornerback at the highest level. These fearless assets are assigned the tasks of mastering a defensive playbook (regardless of the coverage base), defending typically the best athletes on the field (tall, blazing-fast receivers 40 times per game) ... and then having zero memory of the previous play (good or bad).
But with P.J. Williams, a potential first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, he's comfortable with living on the so-called "island."
Straight-up man-to-man? "That's my No. 1 coverage," says Williams, whose measurables at the NFL combine include 6-foot-1, 194 pounds and a 4.57 40-yard dash. "I would love to be in a system like that."
It's difficult to pinpoint exactly where Williams may wind up in the draft. Yes, the aforementioned arrest might scare off a few clubs; but from a playing standpoint, Williams' size, speed, skill level and versatility puts him in play for just about every team.
Williams' second-favorite defensive scheme: The zone-based Tampa 2.
"Being on the field, that's my element," says Williams, when asked about the importance and pride that involves playing every down. "My attitude is, 'Hey, I'm ready to play ball.'"
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Life was pretty simple for Williams growing up. Raised in Ocala, Fla., the multi- sport athlete (track, basketball) developed a hearty passion for football at age 12. By 14, he was the only freshman on the Vanguard High School varsity team. And at 16, he became inundated with letters from interested colleges -- including Florida State.
With the Seminoles, Williams endured the typical 'newbie' phase as a freshman, taking the field with special teams and in blowout situations. But he broke out as a sophomore, registering 35 tackles, three interceptions and one touchdown, while helping Florida State go 14-0 and claim the BCS national championship.
How good were the 'Noles that year? Heading into the title game, 12 of the 13 wins occurred by 27-plus points; and the one "narrow" victory -- rallying past Boston College -- still involved a two-touchdown spread.
The championship bout was a little more tense. Auburn jumped out to a 21-3 lead in the second quarter -- easily Florida State's largest deficit of the season -- but Williams couldn't recall any panic, team-wise.
"We knew the adjustments that we had to make, and the mistakes we had made; but we also knew we'd come back," says Williams. "I pretty much (just) had to do my job."
Williams' future occupation will be listed as "cornerback," but safety was the calling card early in his career.
And yes, it's a little odd to see a young athlete switch from safety to corner. Usually, it's the other way around ... after the player gets a little older, slower and thicker.
"It's all about technique, learning to mirror the receiver," says Williams, who immediately embraced the change to corner. "It's a different transition, for sure, and you've got to be focused. It takes (a lot of concentration) to play cornerback."
Luckily for Williams (and every other 'Noles cornerback), he was able to satisfy that competitive jones every day in practice, locking horns with receiving dynamos like Kelvin Benjamin (a 2014 first-rounder with the Carolina Panthers -- 73 catches, 1,008 yards, 9 TDs) and Rashard Greene, a potential Round 2 pick in this year's draft.
"We had some great players in practice," says Williams, stopping short of saying the practices at Florida State were tougher than the actual games ... which one could theorize from a three-year record of 39-3 (three straight ACC titles). "It was a great experience. I knew had to a lot of learning (early on)."
As part of that, Williams wants prospective NFL teams to know the following: He hates to lose.
"It's definitely something I don't like," says Williams, with a snort of contempt. "But you've got to bounce back and stay focused. It makes you a better player (eventually)."
The above words apply to real life, as well, since Williams and his representatives must be diligent in altering the perception of the player -- in the wake of the arrest.
"You definitely have to make sure you're doing the right thing, all the time," said Williams on March 7.
