07:55 PM EDT on Monday, April 3, 2006

DEANGELO WILLIAMS

RUNNING BACK

MEMPHIS

5-9

214

4.5

THE LOWDOWN

The all-time leading rusher in Conference USA finished his career with 6,026 rushing yards and is the NCAA's career all-purpose yardage record holder with 7,573. Gained 1,964 yards last year and scored 19 touchdowns. Holds the NCAA record for career 100-yard rushing games with 34.

THE PROS

You can't get much more hard-core production than Williams had. He wasn't running against the greatest competition on the planet but the consistency with which he put up jaw-dropping numbers demonstrates he was more than a cut-above the normal back. Built very solid and runs with the kind of instinctive smarts all really good backs have. Gets to the hole fast and stays low. He's a good short-yardage runner. Blocks well and has good hands. Best asset is his ability to stop and turn on a dime.

THE CONS

He's been dogged by injury problems and all the hits and carries he's had at the college level begs the question of how much wear remains on his tires. He doesn't have great size for pass protection.

COULD HE BE A PATRIOT

Draft experts are giving mixed reviews on one very important aspect of Williams. What kind of kid he is. For instance, Scouts Inc. says he's a "high character person with great work ethic. . ." while the Pro Football Weekly Draft Preview says Williams "Acts as if he is the mayor of Memphis and expects to be treated like royalty . . . puts himself first and is not a great team player." Most figure Williams to be a top-12 pick at the worst and some see him going in the first half-dozen picks. Chances are he won't be around when the Patriots have a crack at him so if they really like him, they'll need to move up. The question is whether Williams is that much better than a guy like UCLA's Maurice Drew or LSU's Joseph Addai who could be had after the first round ends and is he worth going up to get? The guess is they won't spend much time worrying about DeAngelo.