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BYU football: Jamaal Williams and Harvey Langi invited to NFL Combine

By Nathan Cunningham

Dec 21, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) runs the ball during the first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports /
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BYU football is sending two players to the NFL Combine. Harvey Langi and Jamaal Williams will be in Indianapolis this year.

Jamaal Williams and Harvey Langi were two of BYU football’s four captains last year. They led BYU to a 9-4 record, then participated in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

Now the two will be going to Indianapolis to participate in the NFL Combine.

Williams has shot up draft boards across the nation and NFL Draft analysts love his unique mix of power and speed. Langi has impressed with his size and tackling ability.

Both Cougars will likely get drafted, with Williams projected as a third to fifth-round selection and Langi a fourth to seventh-round selection. But a strong performance at the NFL Combine could improve the duo’s draft stock.

Williams ran for 1,375 yards last season while averaging 5.9 yards per carry, despite missing three games. He’s BYU football’s all-time leading rusher (3,901 yards) and has scored 36 touchdowns in his career. After missing the entire 2015 season, Williams began 2016 with a bang, plowing for 162 yards against Arizona.

Many have cited his film against the Wildcats as the reason he’s worth an early draft pick.

Williams has a nice blend of speed and power. He’s can outrun defenders while running through tackles, and he’s got great field vision. He doesn’t dance in the backfield, but explodes through the hole. It doesn’t seem like a stretch to say he’ll be contributing to an NFL team next season. Earlier, we wrote why he’d be a great fit in New England, but there are a number of teams that could use him.

Langi started the season as a defensive end, but moved to linebacker/hybrid by the end of the season.

It’s a move that improved his draft stock, as playing linebacker was clearly the position he was more comfortable with.

Next: Cougars favorite to land Breiden Fehoko?

Langi tallied 57 total tackles in 2016, including a career-high 16 against Wyoming in the Poinsettia Bowl. He’s got great size (6-foot-2, 250-pounds) and he explodes through ball carriers. I don’t know if teams will see him as a starting linebacker, but he will – at the very least – work his way onto a special teams unit.

The NFL Combine will begin on Feb. 28 and run through March 6.

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