Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1492675
5 0 M A R C H 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 3 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / produced outstanding numbers in the weight room as well as in the shot put (51 feet, 9 inches) and discus (176-2). The work that Williams did with Miller created the foundation for his as- cent as a football prospect, helping him develop into one of the top offensive line prospects in college football's most re- cent recruiting cycle. "I had a lot of success throwing the shot put and discus, and I was able to become a top athlete in that sport. And that carried over to the football field," Williams told Go-PSUSports.com. "College coaches just took note of that. That really helped me out in the long run." By the winter of 2022, Williams had seen enough. He had been high on the Nittany Lions throughout the recruiting process, visiting three times the previ- ous summer and twice during the 2021 season. In February, he informed the coaches that he wanted to play for PSU. During Penn State's signing-day live stream in December, on which Franklin and the team's incoming prospects ap- peared, the coach addressed Williams directly, noting how unusual it was for a player to leave camp without an offer and go on to become one of the top 20 overall prospects in his class. "You handled it the right way," Frank- lin told Williams. "You just kept getting better and better and better. Your high school did an unbelievable job, your high school coaches did an unbelievable job. You just have handled this entire process the right way." Already enrolled at Penn State, Wil- liams is participating in the team's win- ter workouts and will soon take part in his first spring practice sessions. Fellow four-star linemen Alex Birchmeier and Anthony Donkoh are also on campus. Williams is slated to spend his first practices as a tackle, though Franklin said he could also fit in at guard or center. Those details will be addressed in the weeks and months to come. For now, Penn State is simply excited to have Wil- liams on its roster as one of the standout players in the team's 2023 recruiting class. He's rated as a five-star prospect by On3 and ranked No. 9 nationally with top bill- ing among interior offensive linemen. Just as important, he's the No. 1 pros- pect in Pennsylvania, and his commit- ment reflects the emphasis that PSU has put on landing elite in-state talent. Franklin returned to that theme on signing day when he addressed Wil- liams during the live stream. "It is so impor- tant for us to keep the best players in the state of Pennsyl- vania home," Franklin told him. "That's what you are. You represent that, both on and off the field, academically as well. It just makes too much sense. "I told you very early on that this uni- versity was built for you, for this oppor- tunity to educate you and to create this opportunity athletically. And I know you're going to represent us the right way." ■ OL | 6-5 | 290 Wyomissing High Reading, Pa. Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Consensus HHHH 43 1 1 On3 HHHHH 9 1 1 ESPN HHHH 58 3 1 Rivals HHHH 90 5 1 247Sports HHHHH 25 5 1 Statistics • Helped lead Wyomissing High to a 13-1 re- cord, a Lancaster Lebanon League Section 4 title and a spot in the PIAA Class AAA semifi- nals as a senior • Was part of an offense that helped Wyo- missing go 14-1 and win district and conference titles as a junior Notable • Won Class AAA all-state honors as a junior and senior • Named the Lancaster Lebanon League Player of the Year in 2022 • Received all-conference recognition in 2021 and '22 • Invited to play in both the All-American Bowl and Under Armour All-America Game Recruitment • Committed to the Nittany Lions on Feb. 5, 2022 • Picked Penn State over heavy interest from Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Okla- homa, Pitt, Virginia Tech, Rutgers, Tennessee, USC and West Virginia • Recruited by offensive line coach Phil Traut- wein and offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich • Took his official visit to Penn State on June 17, 2022 • Enrolled in January 2023 2023 Projection Williams is beginning his college career as a tackle, a position where Penn State has strong and experienced returnees in 2023 but not much depth. As a January enrollee, he'll be tak- ing part in spring practice. His early develop- ment will likely dictate the impact he makes as a true freshman. They Said It Charles Power, On3 national scouting direc- tor: "Williams is a rapidly ascending offensive lineman who oozes long-term upside. Flashes high-end traits as a run blocker. An easy, ath- letic mover at the second level, where he excels as a puller. Has potentially elite play strength coupled with athletic ability. Shows budding technical proficiency with his hand placement and understanding of run schemes. Has the length and feet to play tackle but will need to continue honing his pass-set technique at the next level after playing in a run-heavy offense in high school." BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "Williams is reminiscent of former Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Bates. Bates was a guard when he came to PSU but was able to play on the edge of the pocket as an offensive tackle thanks to great feet, awareness and technique. Williams doesn't have the same technique as a pass blocker at the moment but shows the intelligence and ver- satility to play four spots. He also has the neces- sary power in his lower body to move defensive tackles off the line of scrimmage, while still hav- ing the feet to block in pass protection. Those skills mean that he could be a good fit at guard." T H E W I L L I A M S F I L E "I had a lot of success throwing the shot put and discus, and I was able to become a top athlete in that sport. And that carried over to the football field." W I L L I A M S