Early six on versatile juniors list
He's just an athlete anyway you look at it.
By all accounts, Mobile (Ala.) B.C. Rain athlete Ryan Williams had a big season defensively. Playing strong safety, he racked up 65 tackles, had four interceptions and broke up 10 passes.
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"I like to cover and come up and knock somebody's head off," he said.
Sounds like the Class of 2007 100 to watch selection would make a great safety prospect, given his versatility and 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame.
Then again, Williams caught the game-winning touchdown pass in his team's Region I-5A title-clinching victory against Blount High during the season.
"I had a real good season," he said. "If I had to rate it on a 10-point scale, I would rate it a 9.5.
"I am pretty good on both sides of the ball. If I had to chose one, I may chose receiver because I think I am more advanced. But I am just an athlete, anyway you look at it."
Among the other highlights of Williams' season was locking horns against Williamson High, home of Rivals100 wide receiver Jared White.
"He's a good player and I've got a lot of respect for him, but he only caught two passes for 17 yards against us," Williams said. "So he wasn't that big of a factor."
Williamson spoke about what has caught his eye thus far about his potential college suitors. Alabama, LSU, Nebraska, Southern Mississippi, Florida and Louisville all are among his early favorites.
He grew up a fan of the Crimson Tide.
"They had a pretty good season," he said. "Better than I expected. It finished up kind of sloppy, but they had a good year."
With Mobile native JaMarcus Russell under center, it seems that every Mobile prospect is giving LSU a look.
"He is like a brother to me," Williams said. "And I like Skyler Green."
Though its campus is some 1,150 miles from Mobile, Nebraska has made a favorable early impression.
"I like the attention that they have shown me," he said. "They have been calling the school and writing."
Williams feels his offensive talents may fit in at Florida, where he has been impressed with the way the Gators throw the football.
"I like their passing game," he said. "They pass it 65 percent of the time and run it 35 percent."
He also likes the way Southern Mississippi's coaching staff treats its players.
"I've been following Southern Miss for a long time," Williams said. "I've talked to some people that go there and I really like the way they treat their players there. I have been told that they treat their players good."
Louisville is the final school on his early radar.
"I just like their team."
Williams, who also participates in track, plans to attend a NIKE camp this spring and will attend a combine for top juniors before the All-American Game January in San Antonio, Texas.