Florida LB has passion for Noles

Junior to Watch: Johnnie Williams

School: Haines City, Fla.

Position: Inside Linebacker

Size and speed: Williams is 5-foot-10, weighs 210 pounds and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.55 seconds. He bench presses 375 pounds and squats 500.

Statistics: As a junior, he recorded more than 100 tackles despite being hampered by an early-season high ankle sprain.

Favorite Schools: Florida State, Florida, Central Florida, South Florida, Northwestern.

Skinny: Haines City coach Pat Harrington knows the follow-up question is coming even before he can finish giving the measurements on his star linebacker, Johnnie Williams.

“He is on the short side for most linebackers, but this kid can really play,” Harrington said. “He overcomes his height in so many other ways, beginning with his work ethic and big heart. He’s by far the hardest-working kid we have on the team. He’s in the weightroom all the time. He’s just chiseled. The kid can bench 375, squat 500, and really moves well. We timed them in the 40 two weeks ago, and he came in at 4.55.”

On the field, Williams is described as a typical middle linebacker.

“He’s got excellent mobility and flow to the ball,” Harrington said. “He plays sideline to sideline. He does a real good job of reading the guards and putting himself in a position to make a lot of plays.

Williams made more than 100 stops last season despite being nagged by a high ankle sprain suffered in preseason workouts.

“He’s a tough kid, a competitor,” Harrington said.

Schools showing early interest in Williams include Florida, Florida State, Central Florida, South Florida and Northwestern.

“He’s a big FSU fan. He loves that school with a passion,” Harrington said. “I’m not sure whether they’ll make a hard push for him – it’s still kind of early – but they should. Whoever gets this kid will have one heckuva linebacker.”

Williams is also a solid student, Harrington said. He carries a 3.4 GPA and will take the SAT for the first time in two weeks.

Williams plans to attend the Nike combine at Florida this spring, but has not made his summer camp plans yet.