LSU DT commit Zion Williams locked in with Tigers heading into signing day

Zion Williams remains locked into his commitment to LSU heading into this week’s early signing period.

The four-star Lufkin (Texas) defensive tackle, the Tigers’ highest-ranked pledge at the position, shared Sunday he was shutting down his recruiting process.

“I’m excited to (sign Wednesday), but that’s just me making it official,” Williams said. “Like, I think by me saying, ‘Yeah, I’m going there,’ that was pretty official to me. I don’t know how most people feel, and I’ve had a few people tell me, ‘It’s a long way to December. Anything can happen.’ But I was like, ‘Nah, man. If I say I’m going somewhere, I’m going somewhere. There’s no change-up on me.'”

Shutting it down 🔒@LSUfootball @Geaux247 @lsu_szn

— Zion Williams (@ZionWilliams06) December 1, 2024

Williams is an early high school graduate scheduled to enroll in LSU in early January.

Home-state Texas had continued to pursue the 6-foot-4, 330-pound standout, including an attempt to host him for the Longhorns’ final home game of the regular season last week against Kentucky.

But Williams ultimately declined the invitation and has remained focused on his future in Baton Rouge, working under defensive line coach Bo Davis, defensive coordinator Blake Baker and company.

“My trust in Coach Bo — like I just feel like he’s the coach for me, if that makes sense,” Williams said of his biggest reason for certainty and confidence in the opportunity in Baton Rouge. “He’s been recruiting me for a while now, almost since the beginning of my recruiting process. It was just on-sight with him. I got to do a little camp with him, and it was the first time I got coached by any sort of college-level coach, and he took it very serious and I liked his coaching style. He reminded me of coaches back home, and I thought, ‘Oh yeah, I wanna play for that guy.'”

The Tigers’ retention of the bulk of its top-10 class, now No. 6 in On3’s class rankings, has been under an intense spotlight since five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood‘s flip Nov. 21 to his home-state Michigan.

Most recently, Gaither (Fla.) edge rusher LaJesse Harrold reopened his recruitment late Thursday.

Williams attempted the night of the Underwood news to quiet any potential speculation he may head elsewhere for college as a result, sharing to Twitter, “I ain’t commit for him.”

And he again affirmed his plans Sunday.

“With me and the guys who are still committed right now, we went in the group chat and let it be known: ‘If you’re gonna flip, go ahead and do it,'” he said. “Because that just means you’re not 100% with what LSU’s got going on, you know what I’m saying? And back to Bryce, I completely understand why he flipped. Like, go get the money, dude. It’s straight. But with that being said, we didn’t really need him. It was for sure nice to have him, but to be successful, we don’t need just one person. Football isn’t a one-person sport. It’s an 11 man vs. 11 man sport. So me and the rest of the guys, we’re not really worried about that. We’re locked in. And whoever wants to leave leaves, and whoever wants to stay stays.”

What I said yesterday still stands I ain’t commit for him @Geaux247 @LSUfootball @LSU

— Zion Williams (@ZionWilliams06) November 21, 2024

LSU starts the week with 25 commits for the 2025 cycle, including 15 on defense.

Dilan Battle (Arlington, Texas), Brandon Brown (Melbourne, Fla.) and Walter Mathis Jr. (Savannah, Ga.) and edge rusher Damien Shanklin (Indianapolis, Ind.) join Williams in the group up front.

And the linebacker group includes Jaiden Braker (Snellville, Ga.), C.J. Jimcoily (Nashville, Tenn.), Keylan Moses (University Lab), Charles Ross (Houston) and the latest addition of Zach Weeks (Watkinsville, Ga.), the younger brother of current LSU linebackers West and Whit Weeks.

“I’ve been saying this for a while: I think my class, and on the defensive side especially, we’re about to change a whole bunch of stuff up in this college football team, man,” Williams said. “And I’m so excited for it it’s not even funny. I’ve gotten to talk to a majority of the guys one-on-one, and we’re all cool. I’ve had enough conversations with them to be happy and excited to be their teammates, and everybody else feels the same way.

“And when you feel the same way about that with your future teammates, I think the amount of chemistry we’re gonna have once we’re permanently around each other is gonna be insane. And with chemistry, leads to trust in one another on assignments, and we’re all very capable athletes. And if the guy next to us plays for the guy next to him, we’re gonna be unstoppable.”