Football | 5/4/2015 11:10:00 AM
OFFICIAL CHARGERS PRESS RELEASEMONMOUTH, Ore. – Former Western Oregon University football player
Tyrell Williams agreed to sign a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers Saturday after the conclusion of the 2015 National Football League (NFL) Draft.
"As long as I get the opportunity to make it in the league, that's all I needed," Williams told the Statesman Journal Saturday. "It would have been cool to get drafted, but as long as I get the opportunity I'm happy."
Williams turned heads with an impressive performance at Oregon State's pro day after he was timed at 4.42 and 4.44 seconds in the 40-yard dash, had a 39 ½-inch vertical leap, and his 60-yard three-cone drill time of 6.55, which would have been the fastest of all players at the NFL combine in Indianapolis in February, had he been invited.
Still, the measurables and athleticism Williams displayed in front of the NFL scouts at OSU's pro day – he caught passes from former OSU quarterback Sean Mannion - raised his stock.
"I really liked (the Chargers) from taking that visit," said Williams to the Statesman Journal on Saturday. "I was hoping they'd be able to take me in the draft, but they didn't have too many picks in the draft. I knew if I went undrafted, I kind of wanted to make it out to San Diego."
Williams closed out his four-year career with the Wolves by hauling in a career-high 56 receptions for 950 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior last season. Due to his performance on the field, Williams was named as a member of the All-GNAC first team as well as being named as part of the Don Hansen Division II All-Super Region third team.
Along with Williams, three other GNAC players signed free agent contracts over the weekend that included GNAC Offensive Player of the Year Terrell Watson of Azusa Pacific, Azusa Pacific's Cody Clay, and Simon Fraser's Lemar Durant. Watson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals, Clay with the Atlanta Falcons, and Durant with the New York Giants.
Williams will become the eighth Western Oregon player since 2000 to suit up at an NFL team's preseason camp joining former Wolves Demario Ballard (2008-10), Gustave Bentin (2010-12), Kevin Boss (2003-06), Jeff Charleston (2001-03), Brian Crawford (1997-2000), JT Gilmore (2006-08), and Jason Slowey (2008-11).
Three of the aforementioned eight players — Boss (New York Giants – 5th round in 2007), Crawford (Minnesota Vikings – 7th round in 2001), and Slowey (San Francisco 49ers – 6th round in 2012) — were taken in the annual NFL Draft, while the other five signed free agent contracts.
