Relationships have UCF 4-star safety commit Tony Williams locked in with the Knights

Entering the spring, UCF picked up momentum in the recruitment of Palm Beach (Fla.) Central four-star safety Tony Williams.

Gus Malzahn and the Knights staff worked hard to keep the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder home, and that paid off on March 15, as Williams announced his commitment to the in-state Big 12 program.

The blue-chipper is approaching two months since he made his decision public. He’s one of the three top-ranked commits in UCF’s class — which is pushing for top-20 status in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Earlier this week, Williams sat down with On3’s Phillip Dukes to talk about his commitment on ‘The Five Star Flex’. Ultimately, Williams’ relationships with the coaching staff in Orlando helped put the Knights over the top.

“Every time I went to UCF, I had a connection with (co-defensive coordinator) Coach (Addison Williams) where it’s like I can call Coach Addy and we can talk for hours about anything but football. He really just kept it real with me…we can laugh at times, we can just sit there and talk about anything,” Williams said. “(Cornerbacks coach) Coach (Trovon) Reed, he’s a real cool dude, he’s a younger guy, he’s not in the old ways of other coaches. He takes stuff in newer ways, he talks to me regular, I can really have a convo with coach anytime.”

Williams, who is set to return to Orlando for his official visit in June, has also acquired a great connection with Malzahn, who is embarking on his fourth season as Knights head coach after eight seasons at Auburn.

“Coach Gus, he has a good history, has a good background. He’s a great coach, he really reminds me of my coach at Palm Beach Central. He’s very disciplined with his team and he keeps stuff organized. I have a real good connection with the coaches, the school is in a great area for my mom and stuff like that.”

Williams trying to recruit other top prospects to Orlando

For Williams, he now plays the role of recruiter to try and help UCF haul in a top-notch class this cycle. The likes of Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County Central four-star safety Kendarius Reddick and Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola four-star running back Taevion Swint have the Knights currently holding the No. 1 class in the Big 12, as of May 8.

Williams says he’s working on Palm Beach Central teammate and current Miami wide receiver commit Waden Charles, while adding commitments from linemen and linebackers is also a priority. Florida State is a program trying to lure Williams away from his commitment, too.

“The usual stuff,” Williams said of the message he’s getting from the Seminoles. “They still want what’s best for me, but they’re still just pushing the narrative that they’re always here. They’re also a great school, they’ve got a great history, so they’re just making sure that I’m doing what’s best for me.”

For now, however, Williams is locked in with the Knights. He is the No. 328 overall prospect and No. 30 safety in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

“They’re building a very good program, they’ve got a bunch of young guys over there and a bunch of people on the team that help each other out…they remind me of my team right now,” he said of UCF. “It really feels at home, really gives a South Florida vibe.”