Five-Star Plus+ LB Justin Williams commits to Georgia: 'It's a place I could really thrive at'

For a large part of his recruitment, Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge Five-Star Plus+ linebacker Justin Williams believed he would end up committing to Oregon. The Ducks had checked all of his boxes and felt a connection with their coaching staff that he hadn’t felt with any others.

Williams was set on Oregon following his official visit in June. Then he took an official to Georgia and everything changed.

That official to Athens sealed the deal for Williams completely changed his mindset as he announced his commitment to the Bulldogs over the Ducks on Monday.

“Talking to a lot of the starters at Georgia when I went on my OV and hearing their words about how it wasn’t going to be a cakewalk but ultimately you want to get to the league,” Williams told On3. “So why not come to Georgia? You get the best of both worlds. It’s tough but you can succeed. I think that’s worth it at the end of the day.

Committing to Georgia also allows Williams to continue playing his current teammate Joseph Jonah-Ajonye. After committing to Georgia on July 6, he talked with Williams about the two playing together at the next level.

That conversation struck a chord with Williams.

“Me and Joseph [Jonah-Ajonye] were talking and I thought Georgia was a place I could really thrive at and go be great,” Williams said.

Between that connection and seeing what Georgia’s accomplished the last few years, Williams knew he had found his future home.

“I’m excited about being a player who can impact and help the team,” said Williams, the No. 9 player in the 2024 class. “It’s really just about playing with the best team in college football. I know it’s not going to be easy, but I like the idea of proving to myself that I can do this as long as I work hard.

…Going to Georgia, it’s like throwing yourself against wolves. You’ve either got to eat or you’ll starve.”

Connection with Glenn Schumann sealed the deal for Williams

Since first visiting Athens for an unofficial in May, Williams has been steadily building a bond with coaching staff. The coach he’s grown the closest to during that time was Glenn Schumann.

The two sat together during Williams last visit and talked about football and life as a whole. Williams said he can see Schumann being the kind of person who’s still there for him even when his football career is over.

That connection was ultimately what sealed the deal for Williams. Those talks showed him that he didn’t want to play for anyone else.

“If Coach Schumann wasn’t there, I probably wouldn’t be going to Georgia,” Williams said. He’s a great teacher, and he does it at the pace that he knows you need to be at. I think he gets the job done every single year. The guys that he sends to the league is just a testament to what he can do.

…Anybody who is playing linebacker, if you get the opportunity, you need to talk to Coach Schu. He’ll get you right at the end of the day.”