Utah OT Zereoue Williams drawing first-round NFL Draft attention
Oct 8, 2026, 2:15 PM | Updated: 2:23 pm
Zereoue Williams lining up at left tackle. Photo courtesy by Utah Athletics
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah offensive tackle Zereoue Williams is quickly becoming one of the more intriguing storylines for Morgan Scalley’s squad. He’s already put himself on the NFL Draft after an impressive start to the 2026 season, which is now beginning to generate some significant national attention.
Yahoo Sports NFL Draft analyst Nate Tice released his first 2027 NFL mock draft Thursday, projecting Williams to the San Francisco 49ers with the No. 32 overall selection. The projection represents another major indication of Williams’ emergence as a legitimate NFL prospect.
He spent much of his Utah career developing, and playing behind other talented offensive linemen.Which also raises the possibility of the Utes producing three first-round offensive tackles across consecutive NFL Drafts, following Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu in 2026.
After years in the program, Williams emergence this season under Jordan Gross is a significant development. Not only is Williams making a significant impact on the field, his success would only help to preserve Utah’s reputation in the trenches on the recruiting trail.
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Why the 49ers make sense for Williams
Tice identified Williams as a potential long-term replacement for San Francisco’s veteran left tackle, Trent Williams, who remains one of the NFL’s premier players despite entering the later stages of his career.
The Utah offensive tackle’s combination of size, athleticism and positional versatility makes him an intriguing fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense.
“Williams is an easy-moving athlete with enough pop as a blocker to play on both sides of the football,” Tice wrote.
Tice believes Williams could provide immediate value to San Francisco while developing into an eventual replacement for Trent Williams.
Utah LT Zereoue Williams (6-7, 315) waited his turn behind Spencer Fano and looks like a draft pick based on his 2026 early film 📈
He’s one of my September “Risers” in this week’s Film Room. https://t.co/eHpkkqvDbD
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 23, 2026
It’s an interesting evaluation of a player who entered the season with relatively limited starting experience but has quickly demonstrated the physical tools necessary to compete at a high level.
At 6-foot-8 and 305 pounds, Williams has the length and movement skills NFL evaluators look for at offensive tackle. His improved strength has also helped him handle more physical defenders.
Zereoue Williams’ rapid rise this season
The attention Williams is receiving is particularly notable considering where he stood entering the season.
After playing only 156 offensive snaps in 2025, Williams stepped into the starting left tackle role following the departures of Fano and Lomu to the NFL.
He has quickly established himself as one of Utah’s most dependable offensive linemen, particularly in pass protection.
Through Utah’s first three games, Williams earned a 92.0 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus without surrendering a pressure in 90 graded pass-blocking opportunities.
The buzz is growing around LT Zereoue Williams… After chatting with a couple of NFL scouts at the game Saturday, I included this little tidbit yesterday in Scalley’s takeaways article. https://t.co/gCJamCOhbU
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) September 22, 2026
His early performances caught the attention of respected NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler of The Athletic, who identified Williams as one of his September risers.
That recognition was meaningful, but a first-round projection from Tice takes the conversation another step forward.
Williams has also benefited from his work with offensive line coach Jordan Gross, who said Williams added approximately 30 pounds during the offseason. That additional size and strength have helped him establish a stronger anchor in pass protection while becoming a more forceful blocker.
The development is especially encouraging for a player who spent years preparing for an opportunity to become a full-time starter.
“I know what I’m doing. I know what to expect,” Williams said during a September media availability.
NFL success could strengthen Jordan Gross’ recruiting pitch
Utah established itself as a producer of NFL offensive line talent when Spencer Fano went ninth overall to Cleveland and Caleb Lomu was selected No. 28 by New England in April.
Now, Williams has an opportunity to follow them into the first round, further strengthening Utah’s reputation for developing offensive linemen.
That success could also provide a significant recruiting advantage as the Utes pursue several highly regarded 2028 prospects, including five-star tackle Maui Tonata, Samiu Taukiuvea, Toa Feinga, Mataio Fano, Noah Seufale and Mac Horton, among many others.
It’s a BIG weekend for Utah recruiting!
A lot of the 2027 committed class will be present but 22 visitors so far, and a couple more that could be added to the list as well. https://t.co/BgiB86bBwA
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) October 8, 2026
Those recruitments feature plenty of national competition, but Utah has a compelling pitch: two first-round tackles in 2026 and potentially another in 2027.
Offensive line coach Jordan Gross, himself a former top-10 NFL Draft pick, adds credibility to that message. Williams’ rapid development under Gross provides another example of what the program can offer.
Williams still has plenty to prove before next April, but his emergence is becoming another meaningful development for a Utah program looking to sustain its success up front, both on Saturdays and on the recruiting trail.
