Williams exploring his NFL draft options

Colorado State has sent in a request to the NFL’s College Advisory Committee for a pre-draft grade on junior wide receiver Preston Williams, according to an NFL source.

Williams, a transfer from Tennessee, starred in his one season with the Rams, finishing as a first-team all-Mountain West selection after catching 96 passes for 1,345 yards with 14 touchdowns.

The committee can accept up to five evaluation requests from each college team. Players names are sent to up to three-to-five teams, with not all NFL teams having knowledge of who has applied. The committee is made up of team evaluators and the league’s two sanctioned scouting organizations — National Football Scouting and BLESTO. Players can receive one of three ratings: a first-round grade, a second-round grade or no grade at all.

When the evaluation is finished, the school will re- ceive word of the player’s rating. In 2017, 167 underclassmen requested a grade, with only 27 getting a first- or second-round report. In all, 59 players entered the draft that year.

After the final game, Williams said it was a decision he had to discuss with his family, and head coach Mike Bobo said at the time that he and Williams had not yet had that conversation.

If he decides to do so, Williams will have a week after the NCAA Championship game (Jan. 7) to request approval from the league to enter early. The 2019 NFL Draft runs April 25-27.

The system changed in 2015, with a possible five outcomes before that, with notations for potential first-, second- and thirdround grades, potential for top three rounds or no potential for being drafted.

One scout projected he could be a high-round pick, but might not get an overall first- or second-round projection out of the process.

Williams originally signed with Tennessee, then transferred to Colorado State in 2016. He sat out the 2017 season under NCAA rules, but was suspended from all team activities after September of that year. He returned to practice for spring ball this year, but still wasn’t fully cleared until fall camp.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder out of Lovejoy, Georgia, made an immediate impact with nine catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Hawaii. He closed with a bigger flourish with 12 receptions for 248 yards and three scores in the final game against Air Force.

Pro Football Focus had him as the most targeted receiver in college this season (166) as Williams became the one true offensive threat for the Rams in a 3-9 season, giving him an overall grade of 83.9.

His catches rank second in a season in school history, his touchdowns tying for second. His yardage is third best in a season for the program.