Preston Williams was a savvy undrafted find by the Miami Dolphins. He went for 428 yards in just eight games for what seemed to be a tanking team, but his rookie year was cut short by a torn ACL in early November. Williams indicates he'll be ready for Week 1 (granted, players are usually optimistic).
At the start of the season, Williams will be 10 months removed from the injury, so not a given he'll be available. If so, he should be a starter, with a chance to build on one of the better rookie seasons from an undrafted wideout in the last decade.
The Colorado State product caught 14 touchdowns his final year in college, but was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges for a domestic incident -- police said he shoved his girlfriend, who was in the process of moving out. That incident led to his combine invite being taken away, and he went undrafted. Miami took a chance, and it's paid off so far.
Over the last decade, nine undrafted wideouts have finished with more yards in their rookie seasons. One of those guys, Allen Hurns, is also currently a Dolphin. Three of those players, including Hurns, built on that with very strong second seasons -- at least 888 receiving yards. Another one, Doug Baldwin, went on to have a solid career until injuries caught up to him.
UNDRAFTED WRS, 200-PLUS YARDS AS ROOKIES, 2010- | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | College | No | Yds | TD | No | Yds | TD |
2011 | Doug Baldwin, Sea. | Stanford | 51 | 788 | 4 | 29 | 366 | 3 |
2017 | Keelan Cole, Jac. | Kentucky Wesleyan | 42 | 748 | 3 | 38 | 491 | 1 |
2014 | Allen Hurns, Jac. | Miami | 51 | 677 | 6 | 64 | 1031 | 10 |
2014 | Taylor Gabriel, Clev. | Abilene Christian | 36 | 621 | 1 | 28 | 241 | 0 |
2016 | Robby Anderson, NYJ | Temple | 42 | 587 | 2 | 63 | 941 | 7 |
2012 | Rod Streater, Oak. | Temple | 39 | 584 | 3 | 60 | 888 | 4 |
2018 | Robert Foster, Buff. | Alabama | 27 | 541 | 3 | 3 | 64 | 0 |
2013 | Marlon Brown, Balt. | Georgia | 49 | 524 | 7 | 24 | 255 | 0 |
2013 | Kenbrell Thompkins, N.E. | Cincinnati | 32 | 466 | 4 | 21 | 262 | 0 |
2019 | Preston Williams, Mia. | Colorado State | 32 | 428 | 3 | ? | ? | ? |
2019 | Steven Sims, Wash. | Kansas | 34 | 310 | 5 | ? | ? | ? |
2010 | Danario Alexander, St.L. | Missouri | 20 | 306 | 1 | 26 | 431 | 2 |
2014 | Philly Brown, Car. | Ohio State | 21 | 296 | 3 | 31 | 447 | 4 |
2016 | Chester Rogers, Ind. | Grambling State | 19 | 273 | 0 | 23 | 284 | 1 |
2015 | Adam Humphries, T.B. | Clemson | 27 | 260 | 1 | 55 | 622 | 2 |
2014 | Albert Wilson, K.C. | Georgia State | 16 | 260 | 0 | 35 | 451 | 2 |
2018 | Keith Kirkwood, N.O. | Temple | 13 | 209 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | Geronimo Allison, G.B. | Illinois | 12 | 202 | 2 | 23 | 253 | 0 |
Table shows Year 1 and Year 2 receiving numbers (left to right); 2019 rookies are in bold.
Williams will need to prove fully healthy, of course, and Miami had another talented wideout emerge last season in DeVante Parker. But a decent chance he can be a nice option in 2020.
--Andy Richardson