College Coach Praises Green Bay Packers Rookie Evan Williams

The Green Bay Packers were not messing around when it came to upgrading the safety position this offseason, with Evan Williams as one of their newest additions. After signing Xavier McKinney in free agency, the team added even more depth to the position in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Evan Williams, out of Oregon, was one of three safeties selected in the draft by the Packers. Many people believed the Green Bay Packers had reached to select Williams in the fourth round, but it turns out they pulled the trigger at the perfect time. 

Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy noted that Williams was a popular name among several teams as a fourth-round target. Had general manager Brian Gutekunst waited any longer to select Williams, he very well could have been off the board.

After four seasons at Fresno State, Williams was hoping to improve his draft stock in 2023. So, he played his final collegiate season for Oregon and accomplished his goal. While there, he made a lasting impact on the coaching staff, namely co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chris Hampton.

“One of a kind,” Hampton told Packer Central when speaking about Evan Williams. “He really is my favorite player I’ve ever coached.”

That is some high praise from a coach who has been around as long as Hampton has been. With more than 15 years of experience under his belt, he has seen plenty of players in his day. But, Evan Williams stood out among the rest.

“He’s got it. He really does,” Hampton said. “He loves the game. He’s going to work extremely hard. He’s going to be a gym rat. He’ll always be around the facility. He’s like an Ivy League guy. I don’t think he likes people knowing that, but he’s really smart. Like really, really smart; highly intelligent.

“He has nothing off the field, like no type of issues, no character flaws. He’s a high-character guy. He’s a joy to coach and a really good football player. A quiet leader. Tough. Man, I can’t say enough how tough he is and how much he loves the game and loves to compete. He’s really hard on himself. He’s got a really high standard for himself.”

Hampton also praised the mentality Evan Williams possessed. He handled things like a pro, which the Green Bay Packers have to love hearing. Williams will bring some versatility to the mix, as he can fill several roles for defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley.