Declan Williams earns Eagles rookie minicamp invite after standout UIW season

Declan Williams got his next chance in Philadelphia, where the Eagles invited the former University of the Incarnate Word linebacker to rookie minicamp after a breakout final season that put him on NFL radars. The son of former Phillies reliever Mitch Williams, Declan arrives with real production behind him: 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery in 14 games, enough to earn first-team all-conference honors in 2024.

Williams’ route to that opportunity ran through two FCS stops and a steady climb in responsibility. At Rhode Island in 2023, he appeared in all 11 games and made 48 tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss, showing enough range to move from depth role to more regular defensive work. A year earlier, as a freshman in 2022, he played mostly on special teams but still found a moment that stood out, recovering a kickoff fumble that helped turn into a touchdown against Brown.

That background is part of why the Eagles’ look makes sense. UIW listed Williams at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, and his college profile has long fit the linebacker-edge hybrid label that can be useful in a rookie camp setting. He is not arriving as a one-note defender. He has already shown he can play on special teams, start on defense and make disruptive plays in the backfield, all of which matter when teams are sorting out the bottom of the roster.

The timing adds urgency. The NFL’s rookie football development program can begin May 11 and run for seven weeks, giving undrafted players and camp invitees a narrow window to show they can hold up against pro speed and scheme demands. For FCS defenders, that minicamp stretch has become a crucial proving ground, where strong tape and versatile traits can matter more than pedigree. Williams, a Hamilton, Texas native who attended Paul VI High School before transferring from Rhode Island to UIW for his final two seasons, fits that mold well.

The recognition factor will follow him into Philadelphia because of his last name, but the more relevant detail is the production. Williams backed up his 2024 honors with a season that was strong enough to earn him a real shot, and the Eagles will now get the first look at whether his FCS rise can continue at the next level.