James Williams, like most all-star college football players, says he knows he has a bright future. As a Harvard University student, he thought it would be in law school, not the National Football League.

Williams, a 6-foot-5, 295-pound senior offensive tackle, and Brown University defensive tackle David Howard are good enough to become the rare Ivy Leaguers in the NFL, according to football scouts and analysts. This season eight of the league’s 1,696 active players come from the conference that is known more for producing presidents than professional athletes.