The first local player off the board in the NFL Draft is Cal cornerback Nohl Williams.
Williams, who excelled for the Bears for two season after transferring from Nevada-Las Vegas, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs Friday in the third round, No. 85 overall.
The FBS leader in 2024 with seven interceptions, Williams (6-foot, 199 pounds) also broke up nine passes and was tied for third in passes defensed with 16. He also returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown and had 52 tackles, including a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
“The Chiefs weren’t in my mind, but I’m just happy to be a Chief now,” Williams told reporters in Kansas City. “I had a great Zoom meeting with them during this process. I think I had a couple informals with their regional scouts and I felt like it went really well.”
In 2023, Williams also showed a knack for scoring, returning two fumbles for touchdowns. He started all 13 games and intercepted two passes, broke up six passes, had a forced fumble and two tackles for loss.
“It just comes from being consistent and practicing my ball skills in practice and translating on the field and making sure my eyes are on the right spot, my feet are nice and clean and tight,” Williams said. “To translate to the pros, I’ve got to learn from guys like Trent McDuffie and other guys in the room. Come to work every day and keep honing my craft”
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Williams arrives in Kansas City with plenty of experience, having played in 52 games at UNLV and Cal.
Local players that are potential Day 3 draft picks include three more Cal players — linebacker Teddye Buchanan, safety Craig Woodson and cornerback Marcus Harris — as well as a pair of standout wide receivers in Stanford’s Alic Ayomanor and San Jose State’s Nick Nash.
