LeAnthony Williams, Jr. is a four-star cornerback for the Class of 2016. (Rob Saye / Special to the AJC)
LeAnthony Williams, Jr. is a cornerback who likes to dash talk. Not trash talk.
“I talk to people,” he said. “I just try to ask guys about their life and their day. They will answer back, too. That will be the funny thing.”
Other corners may spit venom in the face of receivers to get them off their game. He’s going to fit in quick chats between snaps. He’ll critique the fashion forwardness of socks and cleats. If those are fresh, he’ll be sure to express that.
He might note the level of attractiveness of the opposing team’s cheer squad. He’ll ask them what they are trying to master in Math class.
“Its all about getting the other guy off his game,” Williams said. “But I try to do it in a nice way with simple small talk. That’s my style. At first they will look at me like we are in a very intense football game and wonder why I am talking to them like we are at the lunch table.”
The 6-foot, 175-pound rising senior is also pretty good with the big talk about his recruiting. The four-star cornerback is rated the No. 16 player at his position by the 247sports composite matrix. He’s tagged the No. 23 player in Georgia among this year’s rising juniors.
When the subject of his offers and college interests comes up, he’s also quick to the point. He said every school is in the mix right now that has offered him. He plans to commit during his senior season. He has approximately 14 offers and 14 leaders.
What school has he visited the most? That’s Alabama.
“Its all really nice schools with the players and the coaches,” Williams, Jr. said. “You can easily tell that they surround their players with all the resources they need to excel.”
What school is recruiting him the hardest? That’s Virginia Tech. He hasn’t visited that school yet, but he wants to.
What school does he think wants him the most? That’s either Auburn or Virginia Tech.
What coach that is recruiting him is he the tightest with? That's likely Auburn's DB coach Travaris Robinson. He really likes him even though Auburn wants him to play free safety and he'd rather line up in press coverage on receivers.
What school does he wish would offer him? That's Florida State. The Seminoles are also his dream school. He's big on the defensive back tradition at that school created by All-Americans like Terrell Buckley and Deion Sanders.
What local player does he hang with the most? That's Hapeville Charter's William Poole.
What about UGA? He had a long pause when asked the question if he could see himself playing at Georgia. It seemed to make it clear that there are other schools higher on his list than the Bulldogs.
"I like the coaching they have and the guys they have up there," Williams, Jr. said. "I haven't even visited that school a whole lot yet even though they are so close. I like Coach (Olten) Downs that they have up there. He's a real nice guy, too. I used to know him when he was the coach at Creekside."
Jeff Sentell covers UGA recruiting for AJC.com and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on who’s on their way to play Between the Hedges.
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