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Prized Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Dexter Williams slid down the 2019 NFL Draft due to off-field concerns.
The Green Bay Packers selected Williams with the 194th overall pick in the sixth round. Williams had a stellar senior season at Notre Dame. Many predicted a team would select him in the second or third rounds.
Unfortunately, Williams pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana in 2016. That prompted some teams to skip Williams in the draft, per The Athletic Green Bay Packers writer Michael Cohen.
The article documents the fact that Williams and some teammates had been arrested in 2016 and charged with marijuana possession. Williams was in a car which was being driven while not using its headlights. A loaded handgun was inside the car.
Williams, the article notes, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of possession of marijuana and entered a rehabilitation program. Williams had to talk a lot about this — not his football acumen — in the draft process:
“It was a topic I spent time talking about with a lot of (NFL) teams,' Williams said. ‘There were some teams that it was longer than others. The topic was a little bit longer than others, and some teams just really wanted to see if I was going to be honest with them.
“It was just different with each team. Other than that, it was something I had to discuss. I had to own up to the mistake and just show them what I was doing then and how much (I've changed).
“I started changing the people I surrounded myself with. I started surrounding myself with all my teammates and I opened myself to a lot of stuff, to not just professors, students, even to janitors.
“Whoever came across my path, I always wanted to make sure I left a good note or something that I could feel, OK, this is how I remember Dexter Williams. I just wanted to leave my mark on this place, I didn't want to leave with a bad name or anything.”
Dexter Williams on the phone now. Says it's been a long, stressful day. "The Green Bay #Packers stepped up and gave me the opportunity. I'm just so thankful for it."
— Michael Cohen (@Michael_Cohen13) April 27, 2019
Williams falling to 194th on the draft board could be a blessing in disguise. For all we know, he may just be the elite runner the Pack need. Plus, Williams joins college teammates DeShone Kizer and Equanimeous St. Brown in the Green Bay lineup.
If Williams proves the naysayers wrong, credit Gutenkunst and Co. for doing their homework.
