Nohl Williams CB California | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Nohl Williams CB California
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (48%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROLE: Outside Man/Press CB | |
| Last Updated: 03/19/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (48%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
|
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
|
| Overall Rating: | 83.1 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
|
79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 56.3 | |
| Tackling: |
|
74% |
| Run Defense: |
|
78% |
| Coverage: |
|
77% |
| Zone: |
|
73% |
| Man/Press: |
|
75% |
|
DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#126
Position rank:
#23
|
||
| College Games: 52 College Snaps: 3328 | ||
ESPN RATING: 71/100
|
||
|
247 RATING: 81/100
|
||
RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
|
||
| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Caelen Carson - Wake Forest |
|
97% |
| Coby Bryant - Cincinnati |
|
90% |
| Mario Goodrich - Clemson |
|
88% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Nohl Williams began his collegiate career as a freshman starter at UNLV in 2020, where he developed over three seasons, tallying 98 tackles and 5 interceptions before transferring to Cal for his final two years. At Cal, Williams elevated his game significantly, culminating in a senior season where he led the nation with 7 interceptions, scored touchdowns in three different ways (INT return, fumble return, kickoff return), and earned First Team All-ACC honors.After earning honorable mention All-Mountain West honors at UNLV, he moved to Cal and immediately made an impact, starting all 13 games as a junior while recording 53 tackles, 2 interceptions, and a team-high 2 fumble recoveries that he returned for touchdowns in consecutive games. His ball production remained consistent as he transitioned to face ACC opponents in 2024, where he not only maintained but improved his playmaking ability with 7 interceptions, the most by a Cal player since Daymeion Hughes in 2006 and just two shy of Deltha O'Neal's school record.
Williams' versatility has been a hallmark dating back to his high school days, where he led Pacifica to its first-ever state title as a senior with 74 tackles and 7 interceptions while also contributing as a receiver and punt returner. This multi-faceted skill set translated to college where he continued to contribute on special teams and demonstrated a knack for turning defensive plays into points, scoring four defensive touchdowns at Cal (two fumble returns, two interception returns).
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Elite ball production with 14 career interceptions and exceptional playmaking instincts that consistently put him in position to create turnovers.
- Physical presence in press coverage who uses well-timed jams and hand placement to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage.
- Excellent route recognition from zone coverage, showing patience and discipline while maintaining vision on both receiver and quarterback.
- Natural ball skills reminiscent of a receiver when playing the ball in the air, demonstrating soft hands and body control at the catch point.
- Competitive toughness at the boundary, pins receivers to the sideline effectively and understands how to use the boundary as an extra defender.
- Versatile defensive back who excelled at multiple coverage techniques and has experience on special teams as both a coverage man and returner.
- Playmaking instinct is off the charts, demonstrated by scoring touchdowns in three different ways during his senior season at Cal.
- Showed consistent improvement each season, raising his game when competition level increased after transferring from UNLV to Cal.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Movement skills can be labored, particularly when transitioning from his backpedal or flipping his hips to run vertically.
- Bouncy feet in his press technique lead to delayed reactions against quick inside releases and savvy route runners.
- Tends to open his hips too early, telegraphing his intentions and creating vulnerability against double moves.
- Lacks elite recovery speed when beaten, forcing him to rely on physicality that could draw flags at the next level.
- Inconsistent tackler who can be overaggressive, leading to missed tackles (19.4% missed tackle rate in 2023) and poor angles in run support.
Scouting Report: Summary
Williams brings some ball-hawking abilities to the NFL level, where his exceptional production and competitive toughness stand out more than his athletic testing numbers suggest. His experience across multiple coverage schemes reveals a defender who positions himself exceptionally well, particularly when working in zone concepts where his anticipation and quick trigger allow him to pounce on throwing opportunities. There's genuine playmaking DNA here – not simply luck or circumstance – that shows up repeatedly in critical game situations.The technical issues in his game will require attention, as his transition mechanics and recovery capabilities could be exploited by craftier route runners at the next level. Williams runs hot and cold against the run, showing willingness but inconsistent technique that leads to missed tackles. Defensive systems that prioritize creating turnovers and can protect him from isolation matchups against elite athletes will extract the most value from his skill set. His special teams background provides immediate roster utility while his coverage skills continue developing.
His path to NFL success won't be immediate starter reps, but rather through sub-packages, special teams contributions, and opportunistic playmaking. With continued technical refinement and the right defensive structure, Williams has the potential to develop into a valuable contributor whose knack for finding the football creates meaningful impact beyond what traditional metrics might suggest.
Nohl Williams percentiles vs other Cornerbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Nohl Williams (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
126.3
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
33.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.