Williams’ skills could help on offense, defense
Alex Williams is a pretty even-keeled kid, his mother, Jennifer, said.
But when Ohio State offered the Pickerington North star a scholarship about two weeks ago, Williams found it hard to keep his emotions in check.
“Being an Ohio kid and having an Ohiobased family, you lose your mind,” he said at his signing ceremony he shared Wednesday with Ball State-bound teammate Tyler (Red) Potts. “It was very humbling and surreal. I’m very proud to be an Ohio State Buckeye.”
Williams, 6 feet 7 and 250 pounds, is projected by most recruiting analysts as a defensive end. Ohio State’s interest in him increased after fivestar end Brenton Cox decommitted recently.
But on Wednesday, coach Urban Meyer spoke first about him as a tight end. Ohio State’s depth at that position took a hit with A.J. Alexander forced to stop playing because of a knee injury and Kierre Hawkins’ transfer to Youngstown State.
Williams said he’d prefer to play defensive end but will do whatever the team needs.
“I think he can do either,” Meyer said. “There are needs at both spots.”
Williams originally committed to Iowa State in April 2016 before switching to West Virginia 13 months later. He committed to the Mountaineers after a junior season in which he missed about half the season because of a back injury. Williams didn’t need surgery, and he was intent on having a big senior year.
“He worked out nonstop,” said his father, Dan. “He never misses a workout. He changed his diet. He put on 35 pounds of muscle. He did speed training/ speed techniques and stayed in the weight room. His work ethic is like no other.”
Williams also is an excellent student. His parents said he has a 3.8 grade-point average.
“He was a leader and a captain,” Pickerington North coach Nate Hillerich said. “He checks all the boxes you want.”
No-hio
Williams is one of only four Ohioans in the Buckeyes’ class so far, along with Westerville’s Jaelen Gill, Toledo’s Dallas Gant and Huber Heights’ L’Christian "Blue" Smith. Ohio State hopes to add Cleveland defensive end Tyreke Smith to the class.
Even if they do add Smith, signing only five Ohio players is believed to be a record low.
“Yeah, that's a problem,” Meyer said.
He said it’s not his intent to bypass local prospects. This year was considered a down year in Ohio. Meyer said that academics were an issue with some players in whom they had interest.