I caught up with some knowledgable people in Williams' circle and got some background information that I wasn't aware of prior to my converations.
Williams was a four-year varsity quarterback at Ferriday (400 students) and was offered several mid-major scholarships at the position before opting to go the JUCO route at Hutchinson (KS) to increase his exposure and opportunities. His primary recruiter at Arkansas Pine-Bluffs told me that Williams was a tremendous athlete and they offered him as a quarterback with the potential to play a variety of positions on both sides of the ball. They saw a kid that was long, athletic, very good ball skills, and high football IQ.
Williams was a very good free safety at Ferriday as well as a QB, and that is where he played quite a bit at Hutchinson early before moving outside. Williams also spent some time in a hybrid nickelback type role. He played corner at Hutchinson in year-two, before piling up more than 30 scholarship offers and signing with Alabama as consensus Top 25 Juco prospect.
Williams broke his arm early in training camp at Alabama and that was an obvious major setback for a kid that hasn't taken as many reps at defensive back as most incoming Bama DB's. He got on the field late in the season, playing in three games, but entered the portal in seach of an opportunity to make an immediate impact and get the game and practice reps he probably wouldn't have gotten at Alabama.
I haven't thoroughly fact-checked this yet, but one of my sources indicated that Saban may have recommended Williams to Tucker, as both men are close. Tucker, I am told, believes that Ronald Williams will make a quick transition to Michigan State because of his time at Alabama.
Williams background as a safety/nickelback gives him some versatility, but it sounds like Michigan State likes him as a corner to start out. This is a kid that needs practice reps, and moving him around to various positions doesn't make much sense at this point.
People in the Ferriday community indicate that Williams is a good kid that came out of high school school as a full qualifier.
Based on what I've been able to learn, this sounds like a good fit for both parties. Michigan State is getting a high level athlete with good upside and Williams is coming into a program with an obvious need in the defensive backfield.
Williams was a four-year varsity quarterback at Ferriday (400 students) and was offered several mid-major scholarships at the position before opting to go the JUCO route at Hutchinson (KS) to increase his exposure and opportunities. His primary recruiter at Arkansas Pine-Bluffs told me that Williams was a tremendous athlete and they offered him as a quarterback with the potential to play a variety of positions on both sides of the ball. They saw a kid that was long, athletic, very good ball skills, and high football IQ.
Williams was a very good free safety at Ferriday as well as a QB, and that is where he played quite a bit at Hutchinson early before moving outside. Williams also spent some time in a hybrid nickelback type role. He played corner at Hutchinson in year-two, before piling up more than 30 scholarship offers and signing with Alabama as consensus Top 25 Juco prospect.
Williams broke his arm early in training camp at Alabama and that was an obvious major setback for a kid that hasn't taken as many reps at defensive back as most incoming Bama DB's. He got on the field late in the season, playing in three games, but entered the portal in seach of an opportunity to make an immediate impact and get the game and practice reps he probably wouldn't have gotten at Alabama.
I haven't thoroughly fact-checked this yet, but one of my sources indicated that Saban may have recommended Williams to Tucker, as both men are close. Tucker, I am told, believes that Ronald Williams will make a quick transition to Michigan State because of his time at Alabama.
Williams background as a safety/nickelback gives him some versatility, but it sounds like Michigan State likes him as a corner to start out. This is a kid that needs practice reps, and moving him around to various positions doesn't make much sense at this point.
People in the Ferriday community indicate that Williams is a good kid that came out of high school school as a full qualifier.
Based on what I've been able to learn, this sounds like a good fit for both parties. Michigan State is getting a high level athlete with good upside and Williams is coming into a program with an obvious need in the defensive backfield.
