Five-Star LB Justin Williams commits to Georgia

Five-star linebacker Justin Williams of Conroe (TX) Oak Ridge High announced his commitment to Georgia Monday night.

The 6-foot-2, 210 pounder chose the Bulldogs over Oregon, Texas, and Alabama.

Williams on why he chose Georgia

“First I would say the competitive atmosphere. Ever since stepping on the field as a freshman attending one of their camps I always told myself how much I really loved UGA. Second would be my relationship with all the coaches. When you land at UGA, it feels like family. They yell hella loud as soon as you hop off the plane. Third would be the ability to go win a national championship. That’s always been the goal. So when you can achieve something like that, it’s great. Fourth would just be Athens. It’s a laxed town somewhere you can just chill. Fifth would be my ability to grow stronger in my faith. God is always going to be an important part of my life so having when the going gets tough is important.”

Relationship with coaching staff + their plan for him

“Me and coach Schu are close,” Williams said. “We talk every day, just about life and football. Me and coach Fran Brown are always chopping it up as well. I think they plan on using me at Mike, I’m not really sure.”

Williams ranks as the No. 9 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 1 linebacker and the No. 3 player in the state of Texas.

The Lone Star State linebacker joins coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs’ No. 1 class in the 2024 team rankings. He is accompanied by five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, five-star cornerback Ellis Robinson IV, and others.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $318K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Scouting Summary 

“Rangy linebacker with elite speed that makes him a near prototype at the position. Measured in at around 6-foot-2, 210 pounds prior to his senior season. Added very good weight as a junior. Owns plus length for the position with arms a shade under 33 inches. The fastest top linebacker in the combine setting in 2024. Ran an absurd electronically-timed 4.44 40-yard dash, 4.39 short shuttle and jumped a 9-foot-10 broad jump at the UC Report’s Houston camp. Backed that up on the track with a stellar 11.01 second mark in the 100 meters. Transfers that high-end athleticism over to the field.”

“Originally a safety, he moved to linebacker full-time as a junior and had a very productive season, notching 105 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Lines up as a mike backer for his high school. Shows the ability to stack and shed incoming blockers. Excels bringing down ball players from sideline to sideline and in the backfield. Flashes an elite first step and ability to close. Draws on his experience as a safety to aid in coverage and playing in space. Will need to continue adding mass and strength. A strong tackler in his first year as a linebacker but can improve the pop in his hands and overall play strength. Flashes considerable upside given his high-end combination of athleticism, length and range.”