Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Troy Williamson never lived to the hype he created during his workouts at the 2005 NFL Combine.
The NFL’s annual scouting combine will begin this Friday and it will be a chance for many prospects to raise their stock before the draft in April.
However, just because a player excels in certain drills at the combine without wearing a helmet or any shoulder pads is no guarantee that he will blossom into a future NFL superstar. A number of players who performed at an exceptional level during their workouts at the combine have gone on to become complete duds once they step out onto an actual NFL field.
As was the case for the Minnesota Vikings in 2005.
The Vikings had just traded away their best player in wide receiver Randy Moss and were in search of his replacement when they showed up to the combine that year. Looking back on it now, it seems as though Minnesota was just looking for a receiver that could match the speed of Moss out on the field.
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They landed on South Carolina’s Troy Williamson, who ran a blazing fast, 4.32 40-yard dash at the 2005 combine. But after just three seasons and an Andre The Giant-sized handful of drops in Minnesota, the Vikings traded the receiver to the Jacksonville Jaguars and failed miserably at even attempting to find a replacement for Moss.
Luckily for Williamson, he still gets reminded for his lack of greatness during his NFL career thanks to articles like the recent one written by Jim Reineking of USA TODAY. Reineking compiled a list of 10 players who wowed scouts at the combine and then went on to become complete busts after they were drafted.
Coming in ranked at number two on the list was Williamson.
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The receiver probably wanted to be remembered for his time in the NFL and to his credit, his name is still somewhat relevant (especially during this time of the year). Just not for the reasons that he had likely envisioned back when he was drafted by the Vikings.