WWE signs Brennan Williams, former third-round NFL pick

"When one door closes..." and all that.

Former third-round NFL pick Brennan Williams has signed with WWE, the entertainment group announced on Monday.

The news serves as the culmination of events Williams kicked into motion in 2015, as he became determined to make a name for himself in the ring when poorly timed knee injuries cut his NFL career short.

In stature and personality, the 6-foot-7 Williams appears to be a great fit for the WWE on paper. His love of anime, live-streaming video games and Japanese culture have endeared him to fans online, especially the 23,000 who follow him on Twitter.

Thus far, he's wrestled under the name Marcellus Black, the Great Black Otaku - a pro wrestling shogun of sorts.

Williams has also shored up his lack of big-time ring experience, perhaps the biggest obstacle to his mainstream credibility, by training under WWE Hall of Famer Booker T last November.

Drafted out of North Carolina by the Houston Texans in 2013, Williams also played briefly for the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots, the latter of which he spent a few days with as a practice squad player last season. Williams' father, Brent, also played for the Patriots in the 1980s and 1990s.