4-star WR Ayden Williams talks top schools
Ridgeland (Miss.) wide receiver Ayden Williams is ready to take the next step in his recruitment. Things can always change, but the 6-foot-2, 186-pound four-star has trimmed his list to half a dozen schools. He is turning his focus towards Georgia, Jackson State, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
The No. 170 prospect in the On3 Consensus is planning to commit to one of these schools, but that is not going to happen any time soon.
“I am a relationship guy first, so I am going to keep building relationships with coaches at these six schools, take my official visits, and take it slow,” Williams told On3. “I am nowhere close to a commitment.
“It is time to focus on these schools and start scheduling the next visits. I am comfortable with coaches at each school. I feel I can ball at any of these schools and each has great academic plans, so I am in search of that family vibe.
“When football is over, where will I feel at home at? That will be big for me.”
Williams has not scheduled his next visits and he is likely to take his official visits during the season.
Williams breaks down his top six
Out of the six schools, Williams has visited all at least once except for South Carolina. He has a connection in Columbia and that helped the Gamecocks stay in this race.
“Corey Rucker transferred to South Carolina and he is a guy I used to play 7-on-7 with,” Williams said. “Since he got there, we have talked, he has told me a lot about the coaches, and I trust him. I have since been talking with the coaches and they seem really genuine. Coach Stepp and I have been talking almost every day too. I am ready to get up there for a visit.”
The schools he is most familiar with are in his home state, Jackson State and Ole Miss.
“Both of my parents went to Jackson State, so I have that connection. My dad played there, I am from the area, I have been to so many games, so I know a lot about Jackson State. I agree with the NBCU movement, I love what Deion Sanders is doing, and he has changed the city of Jackson. I really like what he has done.
“At Ole Miss, every visit it is about love. They treat me like a top priority every time I am there. I love the atmosphere. I have watched practice and I loved the energy. They have fun, they get after it, and it looks like it could be fun to live there.”
LSU and Tennessee have had Williams on campus recently and both schools have connected with him.
“To be honest, LSU was my dream school. I told my dad when I was growing up that was going to play football at LSU. When I was there, they showed me a great time. They made me feel important. It was cool with football, but they know I want to get into sports broadcasting, so they had a video to show me about that with all that has come through LSU to do that. It was a great visit.
“Coach Pope at Tennessee is my guy. We talk every day. When I visited, he treated me, my mom, and my auntie like family. I really liked the detail at Tennessee too. We have a great relationship. They pulled my film, they showed me how they would use me, and that stood out. I like their offense too.”
The plan originally was to have a top five, but after visiting Georgia, the Bulldogs pushed it to a top six.
“Georgia came in with an offer on my visit and that is a school I have to look harder at. They have great fans, IU liked the energy at the spring game, and it is one of the best teams in the country. Who wouldn’t want to go play for the best? The vibe there is good too with coach McClendon and coach Bobo.”