By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

Virginia Tech’s Jimmy Williams is the best defensive back prospect in this year’s draft…just ask him.

While it’s debatable where Williams ranks among the top cornerbacks and safeties in Saturday’s NFL Draft, he certainly has no peers when it comes to his ability to flap his gums.

“I feel like I’m the best defensive back in the country,” Williams said. “No matter where they play me at, I know I can do a great job and I know I can come in and play right away.”

In fact, Williams’ penchant for verbal barrages in college resulted in his coach putting a gag order on his star defensive back. Just before Virginia Tech’s 2004 season opener against USC, Williams told the media that star receiver Mike Williams would struggle if he were allowed to play because of Williams’ coverage of him.

While Williams was not reinstated by the NCAA to play in that or any other game, the damage had been done. Coach Frank Beamer put a ban on Williams’ speaking to the media for the rest of the season.

Beamer might as well have taken Williams’ ability to breathe.

“Did I learn anything? I learned a lot after,” Williams said. “You have to kind of watch what you say, but as long as you’re being honest at the end of the day more people will respect you. It was a learning experience. I wouldn’t want to change it. I had fun with it. It allowed me to relax to just go out and play.”

But Williams also recognized that not talking to the media put a limit on his exposure and his potential earning power. Instead of putting in a self-imposed ban on speaking to the media, Williams realized he needed to simply watch what he says. That won’t stop him from being outspoken, though.

“I need the media,” Williams insisted. “I need ya’ll.”

Some in Blacksburg thought the media ban might have soured Williams enough to have him leave a year early and enter the NFL Draft. But Williams opted to return to school, claiming he had unfinished business.

That decision was a bit of a surprise considering that Williams was widely considered the best defensive back in the country at the time and would have likely been a top 10 pick in the draft.

Williams set his goals high, saying that he wanted to become more than the best defensive back in the country. He wanted to be the best player in the country, regardless of position.

In the long run, the media ban probably helped make Williams a better cornerback. The 2004 season was his first at corner after spending his first two seasons at safety.

“I was kind of talking to them about it my sophomore year when I was playing safety,” Williams said. “When I first came in I was on the two deep. My sophomore year I was a starter. I was practicing at it, doing good at it in practice and coach felt like it was a good move for me so we decided to switch.”

Williams played all 14 games at safety as a freshman, having minimal impact before he stepped to the forefront as a sophomore. Starting every game at free safety, Williams finished with 114 tackles, five pass breakups and a pair of interceptions.

All along, though, Williams had been working in practice at cornerback against the Hokies’ top receivers. The move to corner also gave Williams an opportunity to be in the ultimate trash talking position.

In almost every game, Williams was given the responsibility of covering receivers man to man, the best way to run smack talk.

“I have been practicing for three years at corner and we did a lot of man to man even though I played safety,” Williams said. “These past two years I have played basically man to man in every game.”

While Williams was banned from running his mouth as a junior, he let his play do most of his talking. He had a breakout season at corner, finishing with 60 tackles, five interceptions, 14 pass breakups and five and a half tackles for loss.

Williams followed that productive season with another strong outing last year, racking up 44 tackles, a sack, an interception and 11 pass breakups as most teams threw away from him.

Now, with the NFL Draft set to begin on Saturday, some question Williams’ choice to return to school as he is no longer considered the top defensive back in the draft. His stock slipped some as he wasn’t as good as his junior year and teams began to question his penchant for the brash.

Even with those questions swirling, Williams has excellent size (6’2, 213 pounds) and solid coverage skills. Williams will probably land somewhere in the middle third of the first round, though it is unknown whether he is a corner or safety in the NFL.

To Williams, his position doesn’t matter. Even at the next level, Williams remains confident that he’s as good as anyone.

“I feel like I can match up with any receiver, that’s a great attribute,” Williams said. “I have been at cornerback for two years so I had two years at corner and two years at safety. Either way, either one I am prepared mentally and physically for both positions. I do like the challenge at corner. I feel like I can match up with any receiver in the country.”