Money list ... Jesse Williams is being touted as top draft pick in this year's NFL draft. Source: AAP
NFL prospect Jesse Williams is set to catapult into the top 40 highest earners in Australian sport when he seals a move to professional ranks at April's draft.
A Sports Illustrated mock draft released this week has Williams going at pick 32 - the selection that will be held by the winner of next Monday's Super Bowl between San Francisco and Baltimore.
The 32nd pick in last year's NFL draft, running back David Wilson, signed a four-year $6.7 million contract with the New York Giants.
That would place Williams in 36th position on last year's BRW rich list, between Saverio Rocca ($1.8 million) and Israel Folau ($1.5 million).
ProKick Australia founder Nathan Chapman said Williams's elevation from relatively unknown college player to fully fledged pro would open the eyes of the Australian public.
"This will help the process of getting Australians talking about the sport and probably pave the way for more guys to head over," Chapman said.
"Australia has a lot of athletes who could do it ... but they all end up playing rugby," he said.
"Jesse fell in love with the game at a young age and made a decision to go to America and work hard for what he wanted."
Williams, a 193cm, 145kg beast who plays nose tackle, was born on Thursday Island but grew up in Brisbane.
Williams has spent the past two seasons at US college football powerhouse Alabama, winning back-to-back national championships.
"He's been involved in a program at Alabama for the past two years which is basically like the NFL itself," Chapman said.
"The professionalism, the training, the crowds, the expectations - they're all at a similar level.
"Dominating against college kids and dominating in the pros are two different things, but from all reports it's that kind of challenge that Jesse really thrives on."
Williams is in Australia preparing for the NFL draft combine and last week visited Brisbane Broncos.
He bench-pressed 270kg, easily dwarfing the best Broncos effort of 195kg, but it's not his strength that most impresses NFL scouts.
"He's a freak. He's so big but he's so fast," Chapman said. "His feet are fast and he's got agility."
Williams will be just the second Australian drafted into the NFL, following in the footsteps of rugby convert Colin Scotts, who was selected in the third round of the 1987 draft.
Chapman is also hopeful of another product of his program, University of Hawaii punter Alex Dunnachie, being picked up in the later rounds.
Dunnachie this season played alongside former Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide footballer Scott Harding, who has two years of eligibility remaining before he will head to the pros.
"Hawaii had a tough season," Chapman said.
"They really struggled on offence so it was hard for Scott to rack up huge numbers.
"But Scott's a pro. When they threw the ball to him, he caught it. And he returned punts well."
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