NFL scouts were the ones celebrating the 2014 Holiday Bowl as the game pitting traditional powerhouses Southern California and Nebraska featured numerous prospects, including juniors Leonard Williams and Randy Gregory, the top two players on my personal Big Board.
Though Williams and Gregory are each listed as defensive ends by their respective clubs, the juniors couldn't be much different in terms of size and playing style. Their unique talents were on full display as the Trojans held on for the 45-42 victory.
The 6-foot-5, 290 pound Williams is big enough to slide inside to defensive tackle. His quickness and an effective swim move there make him virtually impossible for interior linemen at the collegiate level to handle him one-on-one. The Daytona Beach, Fla. native has been a dominant performer for the Trojans throughout his career, earning the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2012 and improving his production the past two seasons. Williams has been my top-rated NFL prospect since October.
Gregory, too, could see action at multiple positions in the NFL but it could be at defensive end and outside linebacker. The 6-foot-6, 240 pound JUCO transfer (Arizona Western Community College) sports a chiseled upper body but his thin legs leave him reliant on his agility when defending the run. Gregory has a terrific first-step, changes directions fluidly and has the balance and coordination to recognize and defeat cut blocks. While not nearly as powerful as Williams, Gregory has an aggressive initial pop to disengage from blockers and shows plenty of strength to pull ball-carriers to the ground.
Unlike many of this year's talented edge rushers, Gregory is well-versed as a 4-3 defensive end and as a stand-up edge rusher. Gregory frequently rushed out of the two-point stance Saturday night, alternately attacking from the left or right side.
Casual fans watching the Holiday Bowl may not have noticed Williams and Gregory on each snap. This shouldn't be taken as a sign that either is overrated but instead as a testament to the opposing coaching staff frequently running (or passing) away from the star defenders. The Trojans were especially effective in limiting Gregory's effectiveness.
Most of Southern Cal quarterback Cody Kessler's passes were quick-hitters that didn't require his offensive line to contain Gregory for long. The Huskers attempted to trick Williams with misdirection, occasionally using star running back Ameer Abdullah as a decoy.
Williams' powerful hands and agility gave Nebraska's offensive line fits all game long. The Huskers resorted to double and even triple-team blocking of Williams, at times. Williams, however, was his own worst enemy on occasion, drawing personal fouls on consecutive snaps in the first quarter.
With the Huskers driving and attempting to break a 10-10 tie, Williams drew a silly roughing the passer penalty following a 2nd and 3 incompletion from Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong, Jr. Williams had slipped past his opponent to latch onto Armstrong just as he released the ball. Rather than ease up, Williams flung the 6-foot-1, 220 pound quarterback to the ground, giving the Huskers a first and goal from the nine-yard line.
Perhaps motivated to atone for his mistake, Williams was even quicker through the line on the next snap, snatching and tossing Armstrong to the ground in a fluid motion that demonstrated the raw power and athleticism that has earned the Trojans star the top spot on my personal Big Board. Williams' 10-yard sack was erased, however, when he was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty for taunting the Nebraska sideline following the big play.
Williams was called to the sideline by the Southern Cal coaching staff on the next snap. Perhaps not surprisingly, Armstrong took full advantage with a touchdown pass toDe'Mornay Pierson-El to give the Huskers a 17-10 lead.
Williams nearly had a second sack while protecting the goal line in the third quarter, splitting through the right side of Nebraska's offensive line to hit Armstrong high, nearly decapitating the Huskers' quarterback. Armstrong slid under Williams grasp but was dragged down by linebacker Anthony Sarao.
As he's done throughout his stellar career for the Trojans, Williams was in on multiple tackles in this contest. He slides down the line well and pursues downfield.
Gregory exploded onto the scene a year ago, registering 66 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss and a Big Ten-leading 10.5 sacks. He struggled to match that production this year with nagging injuries and extra attention from blockers limiting him. Gregory missed the second game of the year (McNeese State) after undergoing a knee scope and the final regular season contest (Iowa) due to head and ankle injuries. Despite this, Gregory recorded another 50 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks, along with two blocked kicks.
The injuries that kept Gregory sidelined against Iowa also robbed him of practices leading up to the Holiday Bowl. He was disruptive early in the game but appeared to tire as the Trojans used their massive offensive line to wear down the Huskers.
NFL teams might be similarly effective in tiring out the dynamic but slim edge rusher with a powerful running game. To do so, they likely will have to game-plan to slow him down as Steve Sarkisian and the Trojans did - that is precisely why the junior is likely to earn a top five selection next April should he elect to leave early.
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