Commitment breakdown: Mario Williams chooses Oklahoma
Five-Star Wide receiver Mario Williams committed to Oklahoma on Friday, choosing the Sooners over fellow finalists Georgia, Florida, LSU and Alabama. Williams made the call despite having not yet visited Norman, but plans to take a trip to campus when the Covid-19 crisis allows for travel. Below, we take a look at what the Sooners are getting in the Central Florida-based star and what the news means for the Lincoln Riley’s program going forward.
WHAT OKLAHOMA IS GETTING: Williams has a lot of the same qualities as former Texas A&M star Christian Kirk. And while he’s an inch shorter, he might be even more athletic than the current Arizona Cardinal. His calling cards are his explosiveness and ball skills, which make him hard to handle down field or in the flats. He still needs to add some muscle, sure, but that will come in time. The five-star wideout is as versatile as he is athletic and could be a weapon on sweeps and in the return game in addition to his role in the slot. The most impressive thing about Williams, however, has always been his almost superhuman consistency. We’ve seen him in a number of games, camps and 7v7 events over the last two years and he never seems to have a bad day regardless of competition. Williams is the type of player that could make waves early in his college career.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE SOONERS: Not only is Williams a five-star prospect, but his skill set fits Oklahoma’s wide-open, pass-heavy attack like a glove. The Plant City High School star is at his best when asked to go deep or make a defender miss in the open field. He won’t break many tackles, but he plays bigger than his 5-foot-10 frame, as he’s consistently shown an ability to high-point passes and out-jump larger defenders. The allure of the OU offense is nothing new. Elite recruits on that side of the ball have been itching to play in Norman for years, but this is the first time Lincoln Riley has pulled a five-star receiver out of Florida, a move usually reserved for Alabama and Clemson. William’s decision is an encouraging sign for a program looking to take the final step between National Championship contender to National Champion.
