Ranking the Contenders: Mario Williams
Rivals100 prospect Mario Williams has a top five in place but, as is the case with most lists of that sort, not all schools that made the cut are equal. Below, Rivals.com takes a look at all five programs that made Williams’ list and ranks them by their chances to land the talented receiver come signing day.
1. Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s high-powered offense appeals to Williams, who has long been high on the Sooners and head coach Lincoln Riley. OU is also incredibly serious about letting him play baseball in addition to football, which checks a huge box of the two-sport star. The catch here, of course, is that Williams has not yet visited Norman, but there is a feeling among those close to the four-star receiver that the Sooners can lock him up during a fall official visit should the ban on recruiting visits be lifted by then.
2. Florida
Florida may rank second for now, but the Gators are most certainly a player. UF’s campus is less than 150 miles away from Williams’ high school, making it the school that stands to benefit most should taking campus visits remain difficult into the fall. Dan Mullen has done a wonderful job making the in-state star a priority, so there doesn’t seem like there is much separating the Gators from OU.
3. Alabama
Williams is extremely close with Tide assistant coach Jeff Banks and likes the long history of success in Tuscaloosa. And while his lone trip to campus came back in November, he retains some level of familiarity with the campus. The Tide and the Gators stand to benefit most should the current national crisis prohibit him from visiting Oklahoma.The top three on this list are basically gridlocked.
4. Georgia
The Bulldogs will likely get an official visit and will have to play catch-up when that occurs. Williams interest in UGA is piqued to some extent, but Kirby Smart's program is running solidly in fourth for now. Williams could really be swayed by a particularly good visit, but counting on that isn’t a winning strategy at this juncture.
5. LSU
It’s unclear where Williams fits in in Baton Rouge. So while LSU was his favorite school growing up, the fact that he is yet to visit campus and the uncertainty of where his relationship with the coaching staff stands make the Tigers seem like a long shot.