Tennessee prospect on the rise
One of Tennessee's "sleeper" prospects as the
recruiting wars head into December is Gattlatin standout
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Jacquez Williams.
Williams (6-2, 195, 4.55) is a versatile athlete who
has played running back, linebacker and free safety on the high school
level, and may just make some program a nice late addition to their 2003
signing class.
"I'm hoping that's the case," he said. "Things were
kind of slow to develop. I think a lot of schools were looking at me, but
couldn't really decide what position I would play. I was playing a lot of
safety last year, but I moved up to linebacker this year and did a real good
job. Since then, a lot of coaches from some big-time schools are saying I
could be a safety or an outside linebacker in college. Some of the smaller
schools say maybe running back."
Williams said he's received calls from Tennessee,
Vanderbilt, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Ole MIss, Louisville, Middle Tennessee,
Tennessee Tech and Liberty on a regular basis. He has offers from MTSU,
Tennessee Tech and Liberty.
"Middle Tennessee would probably be the leader right
now. It's a good up-and-coming program to be reckoned with in the future.
But I'm taking my time to wait and see who all is really serious about me,"
he said.
Tennessee has been his favorite team growing up, so
an offer from the Vols would pack quite a punch.
"I'd love that," Williams said. "I probably know
their coaches better than anyone else I talk to. I've talked to coach (Phil)
Fulmer on the phone a couple of times, coach (John) Chavis a few times and
coach (Jimmy Ray) Stephens once every week. They tell me that they're
keeping me in their conversations, but my position (OLB), they're trying to
decide how many they can sign this year. There's a chance they may be able
to take me."
Louisville has also made a strong push of late.
"They're supposed to come down here sometime in the
next week or so and talk with me and my coach," he said. "They told my coach
I was real high on their list, and that they've liked everything they've
seen on me. I know they've got a good program on the rise. They're on TV a
lot."
Williams helped lead Gattlatin to an 11-1 record
this year by rushing for 980 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense and
recording 65 tackles on defense.