Whenever there are questions surrounding a prospect, clicking on his tape often provides the clarity needed to find answers.
For UCF defensive back Mac McWilliams, I felt alone in my evaluation (in the best way possible) when watching his tape compared to conversations had with teams about the corner class and the rest of the draft industry. He was undervalued, underrated, and a player seemingly not a soul had put eyes on… until last week in Mobile.
I talked about UCF corner Mac McWilliams as a bolded name for me pre-Senior Bowl and boy did he show up. One of the most under talked about corners in the class no longer.
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) February 2, 2025
Rock solid Day 2 player for me in this class. https://t.co/S9ity0oXAX
An experienced cover man who has displayed a combination of sticky man coverage ability, fluid athleticism, and a relentless desire to disrupt in the fringe areas, his performance against some of college football’s top pass-catchers, coupled with a standout showing at the Senior Bowl, has opened the eyes of evaluators across the league.
One of the biggest factors in McWilliams’ prospect profile for me was his ability to neutralize top-tier competition. Against Colorado’s Travis Hunter, McWilliams’ quick twitch and disciplined footwork prevented the dynamic two-way star from taking over a football game, as Hunter often did for the Buffaloes. While Hunter is known for his elite body control and suddenness, McWilliams matched him step for step on multiple occasions, forcing incompletions and making quarterbacks think twice about testing his side of the field.
Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan provided a different challenge, with his rare combination of size (6-foot-4) and ball-tracking ability. McWilliams, despite giving up size, demonstrated his ability to play bigger than his listed frame, consistently disrupting McMillan’s timing with physicality at the line of scrimmage and ability to remain in McMillan’s hip pocket as the quicker than his counterpart. His ability to contest 50/50 balls without drawing penalties also flashed, consistently forcing difficult throws to all depths—a skill set that popped at the Senior Bowl, as well.
Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson—another explosive playmaker and a projected 2026 first-rounder—tested McWilliams' ability to handle speed in open space. Once again, McWilliams proved up to the task, showing the fluidity and burst necessary to mirror Tyson’s stems. Whether defending vertical shots or quick-breaking routes, McWilliams' ability to anticipate and react consistently put him in the right place at the right time, further cementing his reputation as a high-level cover man.
Beyond his impressive regular-season tape, McWilliams carried his momentum into the Senior Bowl, where he thrived all week long in an alternate setting. Competing in one-on-ones, he showcased his elite short-area quickness, patience in press coverage, and ability to close throwing windows with electric footwork. He frequently disrupted routes early, preventing receivers from gaining leverage and forcing quarterbacks into difficult decisions. His ball skills were also on full display, as he came away with multiple pass breakups and showed a knack for making plays at the catch point. At times he also ran routes for receivers, forcing QBs to simply deaden the ball in one-on-ones, a rare occurrence in that part of practice (watch rep vs. Florida’s Chimere Dike).
His versatility also popped in Mobile. He proved capable of playing both on the outside and in the slot, a trait that will only boost his stock come draft weekend. His ability to transition smoothly from backpedal to sprint, combined with his disciplined eyes, allows him to thrive in a variety of alignments and schemes. And athletically, McWilliams possesses the twitch, change-of-direction, and hip fluidity necessary to thrive in the modern NFL.
His long speed and quick foot turnover are elite enough to carry vertical threats, but it’s his ability to stay in phase and challenge receivers at the breakpoint that sets him apart. While he may not be the biggest corner on the field or in the class, his competitiveness, technique, and ability to play the ball in the air more than makeup for any perceived size limitations.
With a strong resume against elite competition and a successful showing at the Senior Bowl, McWilliams, for me, has solidified his stock as a day-two pick. A high-floor prospect with the potential to start early in his NFL career, particularly in man-heavy or match-zone schemes, his dynamic combination of instincts, footwork, and playmaking ability will make him an attractive option for teams looking to add fresh legs to a secondary.
If you’re still not familiar, get to know the name now as April slowly creeps up on the horizon.
