Elijah Williams, an HBCU prospect who went undrafted, did not go unnoticed during his first NFL game.
The former All-MEAC Morgan State defensive lineman showcased his talent for the Minnesota Vikings in the preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
From the opening snap, Williams was a constant presence in the opposing backfield, disrupting plays before they could develop. His explosive first step and keen instincts allowed him to shed blockers with ease, and his ability to hold his ground at the point of attack ensured that the inside running game never found traction.
He finished the outing with 1.5 tackles for loss and pressured the quarterback in 21 snaps.
Williams’ performance drew praise from coaches and spectators alike, not only for the statistical impact but also for the energy he brought to the field. Whether bursting through the line for a tackle for loss or anchoring against a double team, Williams demonstrated exactly why so many were eager to see him in action.
“It’s one of those things where you guys know, you know how we handle rookie mini camp,” said Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. “There’s not a lot of team reps where you can project, but I remember vividly Marcus Dixon coming to me after day one of that tryout. And I always like to check in with all the coaches. Anybody catch your eye for me to look at tomorrow, and I’ll be the first oneto tell you, watching D line individual for an hour and a half is not what I choose to do with my freetime a lot, but I did spend some time just observing him, the effort had a little pop to him throughout the drills, and that’s really what’s shown up throughout training camp.
Elijah Williams was a player I wanted to watch intently on Saturday, and he had a tremendous day. Williams was in the backfield consistently, along with holding his own at the point of attack pic.twitter.com/zb8dATfQCt
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) August 11, 2025
“Guys like that are hungry, and also, for whatever reason, how did you end up being a tryout guy? I tell the guys all the time, regardless of how you got here, this opportunity is right before your feet so go out there and attack it every day. He sits in the first row of my team meetings every single day. And for you guys that have been in there, that’s like sitting in the front row of a movie theater. I tell them every day, how do you see what I’m showing on the screen? He’s like, coach, don’t worry about me. I sit in the front row, and that’s what I do, and that’s defensive meetings, position meetings. There’s a lot to like about him, and it was good to see him make some plays tonight, too.”
FCS Football senior editor Zach McKinnell, who studied all the draft-eligible HBCU prospects ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, said Williams was a top Black college player “overlooked” by teams.
For Williams, Saturday’s outing was more than just a good day—it was a statement. If he can replicate this level of play, it could mark the beginning of a breakout season.
