Leonard Williams praises Pac-12 depth, takes shot at SEC ‘powerhouses’
Pac-12 Media Days did not receive the same type of fanfare that SEC Media Days received during it’s televised four-day event last week, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t some intrigue and bulletin-board material from the schools out west.
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One of the premier players in the Pac-12 and the nation is USC defensive lineman, Leonard Williams who could be a top-five pick in the 2015 NFL Draft if he decided to declare after his true junior season.
When Williams spoke with the media on Wednesday, he commented on the depth of the Pac-12 while also taking a non-so-subtle jab at the SEC.
USC DL Leonard Williams says "the SEC has a few powerhouses" but that "in the Pac-12 you have to come strong every game."
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 23, 2014
I can’t imagine this is going to be received well in the southeastern part of the country where SEC schools have won seven of the last eight national championships, including Auburn who were the national runners-up last year, and is widely-considered the deepest and strongest conference in college football.
Williams’ comments echo similar comments from Oklahoma Sooners’ head coach Bob Stoops who said the SEC is top-heavy and the middle and lower tier teams in the conference are elevated because of the prowess of the likes of Alabama, LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said the conference is as deep as it has ever been when he spoke at Media Days, but that depth still can’t match the 10-11 bowl-caliber teams in the SEC.