Interest in Williams continues to grow
In a recruiting era where scholarship offers are going out to middle schoolers, Berrien Springs, Mich., defensive end Jhonathon Williams is the latest of late-bloomers.
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A recruitment that really only started this summer has now grown to five offers for the 6-foot-6, 230-pound prospect, and new interest continues to come in. San Diego State was the most recent offer for Williams, and his next one could be only days away.
Williams and teammate Nick Padla visited Michigan State last week, and the Spartans coaching staff said they would make a determination regarding offers for both prospects following a scrimmage they have later this week.
"Coach [Ron] Burton told me they were really pretty set on me, they were just kind of reviewing things," Williams said. "He told me [reviewing] the scrimmage is a part of it, but they want to offer me. After that scrimmage we are supposed to know whether it is a go."
Williams landed his first BCS offer from Missouri just a few weeks back. Getting his second one from an in-state Big Ten program would be a welcome addition for the three-star prospect.
"To me, that's huge. That would be Michigan State and Missouri - two big D-1's - offering in the same month," he said. "I'd have to think about a lot of things because I am obviously interested in Michigan State."
Williams may have even more to consider as his senior season begins because additional teams are upping their interest in the athletic defensive end.
"Nebraska is starting to be on me pretty heavy here," Williams said. "To me that's huge. I went to a game when they played Michigan. I went up there with Nick and it was a huge sellout, great fans and a great college town.
"I am hearing different things from UCLA. I'm hearing through the grapevine that they want me to visit, but haven't had too much contact."
Williams plans to give teams time to evaluate him this fall because he wants to make an informed decision before committing to a school. That will involve official visits to schools outside reasonable driving distance, and he has already begun looking at setting those up.
"I am starting to sort it out and see who I am going to be visiting and when," Williams said. "Most coaches that have been recruiting me I've talked with about it. I definitely will take an official to Missouri and Nebraska. I probably won't need to take an official to [Michigan] State, but if I haven't taken all my five I will take one to Michigan State."
Williams does not have any dates set for official visits yet, and has to consider his team responsibilities when scheduling those trips. Berrien Springs opens their 2013 season on Aug. 29 against Allegan.
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