You’ve probably seen the highlights. That over-the-shoulder grab against East Carolina in the Military Bowl, tucked into the corner of the end zone with literally four seconds left on the clock. It was classic Raphael Poppi Williams Jr.—precise, reliable, and somehow bigger than his 5-foot-10 frame suggests.
Honestly, the "Poppi" nickname fits him better than his actual name ever could. His mom, Rachel Sims, gave it to him as a kid in Fort Lauderdale because his eyes seemed to "pop" out of his head. Now, those eyes are locked on the 2026 NFL Draft.
Williams just finished a 2025 season at Pitt that, frankly, kept their offense breathing during some rocky stretches. He wasn't just a body on the field; he was the primary target when things got ugly. 51 catches. 701 yards. Seven touchdowns. In a college football world obsessed with 6-foot-4 physical freaks, Williams is the guy reminding everyone that route running is still a superpower.
The Long Road to Pittsburgh
Most players take a straight line. Poppi took the scenic route. He started at Tusculum (Division II), balled out at Western Carolina, spent a "redshirt" year of sorts at San Diego State where he didn't even play, and finally landed at Pitt.
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Why the move? It was Kade Bell.
Williams is basically the "Bell Whisperer." He followed the offensive coordinator through three different schools because he knows the system better than anyone. When Bell got the job at Pitt, Williams didn't even hesitate. It was a no-brainer. He even admitted he used to wake up at 3:00 AM just to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to get his weight up to 165 pounds. That’s the kind of obsessive grit you don’t see in every locker room.
What the Scouts Are Seeing
If you're looking at raw stats, you might miss the nuance. Williams isn't going to out-muscle a 200-pound cornerback. But he will absolutely destroy them on a 15-yard dig route.
- Route Running: It’s his bread and butter. In high school at Dillard, he was already being called one of the best in South Florida.
- The Slot Factor: He’s a natural in the slot. He understands how to find the "soft spot" in zone coverage.
- Production: Between Western Carolina and Pitt, he’s racked up over 2,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. That isn't a fluke.
Why People Get Him Wrong
The biggest knock? Size. It’s always the size. People see 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds and they worry about durability. But look at the 2025 tape. He played in all 13 games. He took hits from ACC safeties and got right back up.
There's a weird misconception that he’s just a "system" player because he followed Kade Bell. That’s kinda disrespectful to the work he put in. You don't lead a Power 4 team in receiving touchdowns just because you know the playbook. You do it because you can separate.
The Military Bowl and the Final Goodbye
The loss to East Carolina was a "bitter end," as Williams put it himself. Pitt finished 8-5, missing out on that elusive nine-win mark. But Williams left it all out there. Five catches for 57 yards and the team’s only touchdown.
His farewell message on X (formerly Twitter) hit home for a lot of fans. He talked about the "Pitt community" and being grateful for the chance to show what a "buck-20" kid from Fort Lauderdale could do. Now, he’s one of the few seniors who hasn’t officially declared for the draft yet, but the writing is on the wall. He’s graduated. He’s produced. He’s ready.
What Happens Next?
The 2026 NFL Draft cycle is going to be a wild one. For Raphael Poppi Williams Jr., the path to the league involves a few specific hurdles.
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- The Scouting Combine: He needs to run a sub-4.5 forty. Speed is his equalizer.
- Weight Retention: If he can weigh in closer to 175 without losing his twitch, scouts will breathe a lot easier.
- Special Teams: He showed flashes in the return game at Pitt. In the NFL, that’s often the ticket for a player of his build.
If you're a team looking for a savvy, high-IQ slot receiver who won't make mistakes, you're looking at Poppi. He’s the type of player who might go on Day 3 but ends up playing eight years in the league because he just knows how to get open.
Actionable Insights for Following Poppi's Journey:
- Watch the Pro Day: Pitt’s Pro Day in March will be the make-or-break moment for his draft stock. Pay attention to his "short shuttle" times.
- Film Study: Look for his 2025 tape against West Virginia and Central Michigan. Those games showed his ability to dominate different types of secondaries.
- Track the Portal: With Poppi and Kenny Johnson gone, Pitt's wide receiver room is a vacuum. Watch how the Panthers try to replace that production—it'll show just how much they relied on Williams’ reliability.
Williams proved that you don't need to be the biggest guy in the room to be the most important one. Whether he's drafted or signed as a priority free agent, someone is getting a player who has been "underdogged" his entire life and has the production to prove everybody wrong.