Arizona State lands three-star EDGE Ashley Williams

First-year Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham is making some noise on the first day of this Early Signing Period.

Williams has been staying busy in flip season. And after putting an offer on the table Tuesday, the Sun Devils secured a commitment and signature from three-star Zachary (La.) EDGE Ashley Williams on Wednesday.

The Consensus‘ No. 43-rated EDGE was previously committed to both Nebraska and Auburn, but opened up his recruitment after the coaching shakeup in the Plains. Williams took a visit out to Georgia Tech last weekend and was expected to ink in February, but after a FaceTime conversation with the entire Sun Devils staff on Wednesday morning the 6-foot-5, 225-pounder had a change of heart.

“I liked Georgia Tech, but once Arizona State came into the mix, I felt I had to go there. I had to go to Arizona,” Williams told On3.

“It was really love at first sight,” he continued. “When we first talked, they introduced to the whole coaching staff, including the head coach, Coach Kenny, and that meant a lot to me.”

Williams is wrapping up his second season playing defensive end for Louisiana powerhouse Zachary and brings a ton of athleticism to a premium position in the front seven. The three-star EDGE boasts a 6-foot-5 wingspan along with a 27-inch vertical and 9-foot-6 broad jump.

He saw a lot of parallels between Arizona State and his high school.

“Arizona State is a lot like Zachary,” said Williams. “It fits me and their main thing is to work on football, and that’s what I’m all about, so it’s most definitely a fit for me.”

The Sun Devils land an intriguing late addition in Williams, the No. 437 player in the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.