Florida LB commits to Kentucky

Kentucky has picked up a verbal commitment from a sleeper linebacker prospect from the Sunshine State.

Neptune Beach (Fla.) Fletcher standout Johnny Williams, who recorded 89 tackles and 15 sacks in leading his team to a 12-2 record this season, gave his pledge to the Wildcats after making an official visit this weekend.

“My visit was great,” he said. “I knew when I was up there that was the place I wanted to be. I just clicked with everyone – the coaches, the players, the people in their program. My host was Warren Wilson. We had a great time hanging out and seeing the town, the campus. We went to the UK-Vanderbilt basketball game. That was a big experience for me because I’ve never seen a college basketball game before. It was wild. They’ve got great fans.”

Williams (6-3, 235, 4.55) said he chose the Cats over Georgia Tech, Duke, Clemson, Bowling Green and South Florida. He had verbal offers from each school pending his official visits, but says he will not take any more trips.

“I’m 100 percent sure about my decision,” he said. “It’s the school for me. I really like the coaches. My momma liked them, too, when they came down here to visit. She felt good about sending me off to play for them.

“I also like the opportunity they have for me to play early at linebacker. They said they need some help there, and that I would be able to compete for some playing time as a freshman. They said I’ll probably start out at outside linebacker and maybe play some inside linebacker, too. They’ll make that decision in camp.”

As a senior, Williams helped lead Fletcher to the best record in school history, a trip to the Class 5A finals, and earned All-First Coast, all-conference and all-district honors.