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Leonard Williams campaigns for No. 1 pick, would love to play for Oakland Raiders

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive end Leonard Williams (94) celebrates against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans defensive end Leonard Williams (94) celebrates against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams makes his case to be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but also offered up his preferred place to play.

Leonard Williams is widely regarded as the top prospect in the 2015 NFL Draft after a standout career with the USC Trojans over the last three seasons, but hasn’t gotten nearly the type of attention that quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston have received.

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The two quarterbacks and winners of the last two Heisman Trophy’s are expected to contend for the No. 1 overall selection with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owning the first overall pick. Williams is a native of Daytona Beach, FL and played his high school football at Mainland high school, so could he begin his professional career in his home state?

Probably not. But he could begin his pro career in the state where he blossomed into arguably the best player in the draft with the Oakland Raiders.

“The Raiders have kind of been like my favorite, hometown team. I love their colors, I love their tradition, I love their defense,” Williams said at the combine, via NFL.com. “I want to go as high as possible and shooting for that number one spot. But if I did end up dropping to the Raiders, I would love to play for them.”

Oakland has the fourth pick, after Tampa, Tennessee and Jacksonville where the Jaguars have been the popular choice for Williams in many early mock drafts, but he’s ready to give up on his dream of being the No. 1 overall pick, even if quarterback looks like the logical choice.

“I would say that, based on previous years, sometimes it’s taking a chance when you take a quarterback. You never know what you’re going to get,” Williams said. “I would say that I’m going to bring the disruption, I’m going to bring that physicalness, I’m going to get to the quarterback and get some sacks.”

Williams will work out with the defensive linemen on Sunday morning and you can watch him in action on the NFL Network beginning at 9/8 central.

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