OWINGS MILLS — The Ravens sent running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery to Blacksburg, Va., to conduct a private workout with speedy Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams.
Williams has visited the Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Redskins and has worked out for the New England Patriots and the Dolphins.
Williams is a projected second-round draft pick with 4.45 speed, a 40-inch vertical leap and the strength to bench press 225 pounds 19 times.
"A number of people think he’s the best back in the draft," Lande said. "The hamstring might keep him from being a second-round pick. On film, he’s special. It wouldn’t shock me knowing the Ravens if they got him in the second round even though they have Ray Rice. They might say, ‘He’s too good to pass up. This kid is a dynamic football player. I love this kid."
Although prone to injuries last season, including a torn hamstring as he missed five games., the 5-foot-9, 211-pound junior rushed for 1,655 yards and 21 touchdowns as a freshman and slumped to 477 yards and nine touchdowns last season.
"I was able to show that I can still be a home-run threat," Williams said. "I feel that my vision is the biggest asset to my game. I feel that what I do extremely well is to keep my eyes forward while my feet are moving and being able to move as quickly as I can."
Williams said it feels like everyone else is running in slow motion when he’s on the field.
"Yeah, it’s funny because my high school coach was talking about that," Williams said. "How the college game kinda slowed down for me. It’s cool that you mentioned that, because those were words right out of my mouth."
Eastern Washington junior running back Taiwan Jones is an intriguing speedster who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds with a 42-inch vertical leap and an 11-foot broad jump.
Undersized at 5-11, 194 pounds, he has rare speed and game-breaking ability. Jones rushed for 1,742 yards and 14 touchdowns last season and finished with 2,421 all-purpose yards.
"If you needed a workout to find out that Taiwan Jones was fast, you’re blind," Ravens director of college scouting Joe Hortiz said. "The guy is fast. And he’s a fun player to watch on film. The biggest thing that helps Taiwan is the film."
USC running back Allen Bradford is your prototypical bruiser at 5-11, 235 pounds. He’s fast for his size with a 4.53 clocking.
He’s a powerful, downhill style back as a converted linebacker-safety who has played fullback and delivers a blow as a tackle-breaking, leading blocking presence.
Bradford rushed for 794 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Connecticut running back Jordan Todman and Hawaii standout Alex Green are other versatile options. Montgomery attended Green’s Pro Day in California.
"Green’s a good football player," Lande said. "He can run. He’s a big, thick-bodied kid. Todman is a good football player, and the Hawaii kid is explosive and powerful. He looks the part."
