Brandon Williams made an impression on his coaches and new teammates as soon as they met him.
Just taking a look at Williams, one point is clear: He's big. And he has huge arms.
"God has blessed that young man with a big set of arms," veteran lineman Chris Canty said during a recent interview on 105.7 The Fan. "When he starts learning how to use them, he's going to be really, really impressive."
Williams, 6-foot-1, 335 pounds, is used to people commenting on his size.
"I've always been a big kid, but when I got a little older I found the weight room and I just lived in there," Williams said.
Those physical tools have helped Williams make the transition to the NFL over the last couple months. He held his own during offseason practices, and the third-round pick made it clear from the time he arrived in Baltimore that he was not going to be intimidated by the big stage of the NFL.
The defensive lineman out of Division II school Missouri Southern State said "I'm here to stay," during his first press conference at rookie minicamp, and added that he expects to make an immediate impact on the defense.
Williams plans to keep that same mentality when the Ravens begin training camp next month.
"I just keep that passion and go in there with a mindset that, 'No one can stop you. No one can block you,'" Williams said.
The Ravens players and coaches currently have a break before training camp opens in late July. Williams will use the time to visit with his family and continue training on his own so that he's ready to compete for a job.
"My mentality going into training camp is to just play your game," Williams said. "Don't get psyched out just because it's training camp, and you have pads on. It's what you've been doing since you've been little."
Williams received positive reviews of his play during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and minicamp in May and June. Before he even put on a Ravens helmet, the YouTube video of him walking on his hands became a talking point in the locker room.
He has the size and power to be a block eater in the middle of the line, and his new teammates see significant potential in him.
"He's big, strong, stout," Canty said. "He's going to be able to take up a lot of space in that defensive interior. I'm really looking forward to seeing what he's able to do."
Williams is expected to compete for the starting nose tackle job in training camp along with fourth-year veteran Terrence Cody, who is working his way back from offseason hip surgery. Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata could also end up starting at nose tackle depending how the Ravens want to arrange their defensive front.
Williams showed during the offseason that he has the talent to earn a starting job, and now it's a matter of refining his game so that he can make the jump to the NFL level.
"I know that his game is going to go to that next level once we put the pads on and get into training camp," Canty said. "He's got some physical gifts, and we've just got to get him using them the right way and he'll be alright."
