North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Seniors Await NFL Draft
4/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 18, 2002
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N.C. State NFL Draft Tracker - NFL.com
By Tony Haynes
Raleigh, N.C.-Don't blame Levar Fisher, Willie Wright, Ray Robinson and Brian Williams for feeling a little anxious right now. You see, the day all four former NC State football players have dreamed about is almost here. Playing Florida State in Tallahassee will seem like a piece of cake compared to the suspense, drama and uncertainty that will greet all four players when the NFL Draft begins on Saturday.
Fisher, a standout linebacker from Beaufort, will likely be the first Wolfpacker to have his name called on Saturday. After becoming NC State's all-time leading tackler in a standout college career, Fisher now has high hopes for an encore performance on the pro level. The two-time first team All-ACC selection has impressed scouts with his speed and grit, but all those qualities that made Fisher one of the best linebackers in college football the last two seasons may not be enough to warrant a first round selection. Most draft experts see him going in the second round. Then there's a question about Fisher's overall health. In just the last 12-months, he's undergone treatment for injuries to a knee, an arm and his neck.
"When they (NFL teams) get a player of his magnitude, they try to dissect that player and find something wrong with him," said NC State head coach Chuck Amato. "He's as healthy as any other linebacker they'll have in the draft. He's a young man that can run fast and he's got a high motor, he's always going a 100 miles per hour. Sometimes he moves too quick because he gets himself out of position. He'll hit you, but he's got to become a better tackler. He makes a lot of tackles and misses a whole lot of tackles. Can you imagine how many tackles he'd have if he made the ones he missed? But at least he's there and he's a team player. He's got just everything you need."
ESPN ranks Fisher as the 8th best linebacker in the draft.
Williams, who made the transition from free safety to cornerback prior to his junior season, could be one of the sleepers in the draft. Fast and physical, Williams offers up the type of versatility that many NFL teams like.
"The pros look at him and see a kid who has played corner for two years, but know that he's really a safety. So they have a two for one man," Amato said. "Then he's played on every one of our special teams. I would be very surprised if he didn't make it because he can do so many things that can help a team win. They've flown him all over the country the last two weeks and I think he's worked out for 11 or 12 different teams. He's really tested well in all the workouts he's had."
Most of Williams' work outs for scouts and general managers produced sub-4.5 times in the 40.
Wright, a sticky fingered tight end, will create quite a dilemma for teams searching for a tight end that can make plays in the passing game. No one will question the Greensboro native's ability to catch the football. In just two seasons, Wright had more catches (71) than any tight end in school history. And although his weight is now up to 248 pounds, some NFL coaches wonder whether Wright has enough size and strength to be an effective blocker on the professional level.
"Willie weighed 248 pounds when he worked out for the pros. When we got here, he was at 215," Amato said. "Willie has outstanding hands and he's got adequate speed, he ran the 40 in 4.8 for the pros, which isn't bad. He can do the things they want a tight end to do. The biggest obstacle for Willie is his blocking because he is that 'tweener.' It's really a matter of what offense he gets into and how they want to utilize him."
The same might be said for Robinson, who could become an effective running back in an offense that frequently uses its tailbacks in the passing game. In his final college season, Robinson led the Pack in rushing (818 yards on 190 carries) and receiving (52 receptions). But because there is so much talent at the tailback position, the former ACC Rookie of the Year may be forced to wait awhile before his name is called this weekend.
"Ray is a complete back," Amato said. "I think it was [ESPN analyst] Lee Corso who said that Ray was the best pass catching back that he had seen in college football last season. Ray can run and he can catch. He's got good speed, he doesn't have 4.3 or 4.4 speed, but not many people do. He ran his fastest time the last time the pros worked him out. I think he ran a 4.52, or something like that. He breaks tackles and he does a fairly good job with his pass protection. He's a back that can help somebody, there's no question about that."
Although Robinson is not listed among the top 10 tailbacks in the draft, he has been dubbed as an intriguing pick by ESPN, which says he "catches the ball more naturally than some of the wide receivers."
