2020 athlete Joel Williams on early offers, Vols & Tulane visits
MANDEVILLE, La. -- 2020 Baton Rouge athlete Joel Williams is quickly building a reputation in the southeast as one of Louisiana’s fast-rising stars, and he’s not wasting any time making moves in his recruitment.
Already this spring, he’s been offered by and made visits to Tennessee and Tulane, but he also holds early offers from Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss just to name a few. His visit to Knoxville in particular was a unique experience and one that he said set the bar for future trips.
“I loved it - I liked it,” he said. “That was my first junior day, so it was very interesting.”
Williams said that Vols wide receivers coach David Johnson has been quick to strike up a relationship with him and he feels as though he’s made him a top priority.
“It’s good - it’s great,” he said. “I like that he really keeps it real. He told me that he likes how I play, how explosive I am and that was I he offered me.”
Otherwise, Williams was in New Orleans for a spring scrimmage at Tulane and said that a recent offer from SMU has also caught his attention.
IN HIS WORDS
On his Tulane visit
“It was nice,” he said. “I like it a lot and you can get an education there - that’s really good out there … The fact that it’s closer helps, I have a big family. A lot of people are going to want to come watch me. Every game I want 20 family members, 20 friends to come out.”
On early recruitment from SMU
I talk to their cornerbacks coach [Kevin Curtis],” he said. “He told me to call him and I call him every week. We just talk about different stuff, how I’m doing, what I’m eating and stuff like that … It’s a new staff and they’re building and it’s good. I like what they’re building and I like Dallas.”
RIVALS REACTION
Williams can be stashed away for most of the programs that have offered him as a name to keep an eye on going forward. He hasn’t really had the chance to get too involved in the recruiting process yet, but is enjoying the early attention. What makes him a special player on either offense or defense is his natural ball skills coupled with his burst and acceleration to get him out of jams with the ball in his hands or to stick on a receiver’s hip.