No. 1 player in Oklahoma, Gentry Williams, commits to Sooners

A long list of schools offered Tulsa (Okl.) Booker T. Washington four-star Gentry Williams, but in the end, he stayed home, and committed to the school he grew up cheering for, the University of Oklahoma.

“This is like a dream come,” Williams said. “I am so grateful for the opportunity at Oklahoma, and I am definitely not taking this for granted.

“It is a blessing and it feels amazing to be committed to Oklahoma.”

Williams is a versatile player and he can do a lot on the field, but On3 ranks him as the No. 7 cornerback and No. 34 player in the country in the On300.

He took official visits to Arkansas, Florida and USC over the summer. Then he visited Oklahoma officially in September. That visit to Norman all but closed out his recruitment.

“I felt it on that official visit. That is when I really felt it about Oklahoma. I loved the energy, it felt like home, and I knew it.

“It just felt different, and I wasn’t going to second guess myself.”

Williams is commitment No. 16 in the 2022 class for Lincoln Riley and Oklahoma. It’s a big commitment both on and off the field, especially with in-state recruiting efforts On3’s Jeremy Crabtree writes.

Pac 12 and SEC school had the lead at different times for Williams

It wasn’t a done deal that Williams would stay home early in his recruitment.

The 6-foot, 170-pounder was leaning towards a Pac 12 first, then a program in the SEC, but Oklahoma beat them both when a decision was made.

“When it was early, I was leaning towards USC,” Williams said. “That was my top school. I liked them a lot, but it was pretty far from home.

“Florida was one of my favorite visits, and I really liked the program. In the summer, I had them at the top. After that official visit, I was really thinking a lot about Florida.

“Over time though, it was Oklahoma that felt right for me. Building relationships with all the coaches, the feeling when I was there, and it was just right.”

Williams sees a very bright future at Oklahoma

The Sooners have been a regular in the Top 10 under Riley, and with his offense, combined with the defense Alex Grinch is building, Williams likes what he sees in the coming years.

“We are getting the talent, coach Grinch is doing great with the defense, and we are going to put it all together,” Williams said. “Oklahoma has all the resources, the coaches are getting the right players, and big things are happening.”

Not only is Williams excited about the team’s future, but he is ready to be coached and developed by the Sooner staff too.

“Coach (Roy) Manning (cornerbacks) has played at a high level at every level and I know he can help me get there. He knows the ins and outs of being a great cornerback, he is a great teacher, and he just gets it.

“I get to work with coach Manning and play in coach Grinch’s defense. He loves my game, he feels I can do really well in his system, and I am excited about it.

“Playing at Oklahoma, I get to play for great coaches, in a great atmosphere, and at a school that is going to win. It is just a great fit for me overall.”