Brandon Williams is small.

The former Wisconsin Badgers wideout stands a mere 5-11 and 175 pounds. Not exactly the prototypical build for an NFL wide receiver. However, the San Francisco 49ers were willing to overlook this obvious knock and selected Williams in the third round of this year's NFL draft (84th overall). So the question at hand is can this diminutive pass catcher make a niche for himself at the pro level?

Before you start throwing out names like Steve Smith and Santana Moss as evidence in Williams' favor, keep in mind that those two Pro Bowlers are actually quite different in several key aspects. First of all, they are actually more compact than the rather lanky Williams. Smith packs on 185 pounds on his 5-9 frame while Moss carries 190 pounds on his 5-10 frame. This extra weight gives both of these guys an edge in terms of durability and also allows them to break tackles from time to time. At this point, there is no guarantee that Williams' rather svelte frame will endow him with either of these positive traits.

Also, there is another very key difference between the two aforementioned Pro Bowlers and Brandon Williams; flat out speed. Williams turned in a rather pedestrian 4.49 40-yard-dash while both Smith and Moss are known for possessing virtual "world class" speed on the football field. This lack of game-breaking speed, combined with his narrow frame, does not bode well for a guy who will be going up against NFL-caliber gladiators week in and week out. Still, Williams proved to be a very elusive target when returning kicks for the Badgers, so maybe he can utilize that elusiveness to compensate for both his lack of speed and lack of size. He also piled up 202 receptions and over 3,000 receiving yards during his college career, so he's not completely incapable of succeeding out wide.

Many pundits have Williams pegged as a kick return specialist first and foremost, and with good reason. But don't be surprised if the skinny kid from St. Louis proves the critics wrong and finds a spot for himself in the San Francisco 49ers offense. He might not fit the NFL wide reciever bill exactly, but then again, the NFL is all about breaking the mold.