BREAKING: 5-star LB Justin Williams commits to Georgia
BREAKING: 5-star LB Justin Williams commits to Georgia
Five-star linebacker Justin Williams announced on Monday that he has committed to Georgia.
Williams, a native of Conroe, Texas, is the nation’s No. 9 overall player, No. 1 linebacker, and No. 3 prospect out of Texas, according to the industry rankings on On3.com.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker chose the Bulldogs over Oregon. He also had offers from multiple other Power 5 programs, including Alabama, Ohio State, and Texas.
Oak Ridge High School football head coach Mark Schmid thinks highly of Williams.
“He’s a standout kid,” he said, per the Houston Chronicle. “He’s a really great student. He’s in the top 10% of his class. Teachers love him. The kids respond to him and rally around him. They kind of watch how he handles situations. He’s not only a verbal leader, but he’s a leader with his actions. To have somebody like that on that side of the ball has worked out well.”
Williams helped lead the War Eagles to a 7-4 season in 2022 as a junior. Per MaxPreps, he was named the Texas District 13-6A Defensive Player of the Year following last season.
Williams totaled 108 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks during his junior campaign. He also competes on the track-and-field team in the 100-meter dash and high jump.
Georgia football co-defensive coordinator/inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann and defensive backs coach Fran Brown is credited with helping the Bulldogs land his pledge.
Williams is primed to have another stellar season for Oak Ridge, where he plays with current UGA commit and teammate Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, who is a 4-star defensive lineman. Jonah-Ajonye, who is a 6-foot-4 and 275-pound run-stopper, committed early in July.
The pair of Conroe, Texas, products joined an already loaded Georgia 2023 recruiting class, which is ranked No. 1 nationally across all major recruiting platforms. Williams is the Bulldogs’ 26th commitment. He is Georgia’s first linebacker commit in the 2023 class.
Scouting Report:
Turbo-charged off-ball linebacker prospect with physical traits and athleticism to become a high-major difference maker. Possesses a lean, athletic build with ample frame space. Explosive athlete with a strong track and field profile and excellent combined testing data. Bouncy, is a twitched-out athlete in space and plays with more strength than listed size suggests. Limitless pursuit range. Almost never out of a play because of sheer athleticism. Effortless speed. Hard to evade in space because of acceleration rate and gear-changing ability even when opened up at full tilt. Flashes power in his hands. Can drop the hammer in the hole on a lead blocker or ball carrier. Hand strength translates to hard-to-make drag-down tackles in space as well. Productive defender. Volume tackler with high junior-year TFL and sack numbers, especially for an off-ball linebacker. Downhill speed and physical traits could lead to intriguing blitz/rush options in certain packages. Early-career safety snaps should raise the floor on coverage ability. Route anticipation and play diagnosis are at times a bit delayed. A tad high cut physically, keeping the hips higher and occasionally compromising tackling technique. One of the nation's top defensive prospects in the 2024 recruiting cycle. Fits any and all defensive schemes because of sheer athleticism and playmaking ability. Projects as a potential Power Five impact player with NFL Draft high-round traits. — Gabe Brooks, 247Sports Recruiting Analyst
Highlights: Justin Williams’ tape from his junior season at Oak Ridge High School in Texas.