Interview: 3-Star 2020 OL Justin Williams Updates Ivy Camps and MWC Visits
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Between the Pac-12, Mountain West, and Ivy League programs, there are very few collegiate offensive line coaches who are unaware of Justin Williams. The 6-4, 270-pound, three-star lineman has pulled in five offers from Cal-Poly, Northern Arizona, Columbia, Cornell, and San Diego State (PWO) with interest spanning the nation. Williams has taken the recruiting process to the next level traveling the country not only on unofficial visits to put a face with the name but to also display his talents and coachability first-hand at college camps. The Tesoro High School standout now enters fall camp of his senior season with a chip on his shoulder and a crowd watching.
In an RNG catch-up interview, I sat down with Williams going over his performance at Ivy League camps on the east coast and his recent Mountain West swing to Boise State, Colorado State, and Utah State.
*Click link for July 9, 2019, RNG interview with Justin Williams
Interview
Justin, when we last spoke in early July you had camped at Whittier, UCLA, La Verne, Azusa Pacific, USC, San Diego State, Stanford, and Cal-Poly San Obispo. Did you compete at any other camps this summer?
“Yes. Across four days, I competed at Yale, Princeton, Cornell and then a Harvard camp.”
That’s a lot going back-to-back. Of the four Ivy League camps, which was your best camp performance?
“I performed my best at Yale. I was fresher at that camp being the first of the four. Towards the end I was a little burnt but I was keeping my energy up.”
What did you do well at the Yale camp?
“I was consistent with my blocking. I was consistent across each drill and with the use of my hands and feet. In the one-on-ones, I did well. I also did well in the agility drills.”
I see on Twitter you have been on a lot of visits closing out the summer. Which schools have you visited over the last few weeks?
“I took visits after the four Ivy camps; I did a tour afterwards. Recently I visited Northern Arizona, Colorado State, Boise State, and Utah State.”
How did the Boise State visit go?
“It was a lot of fun. It was very nice to see the environment there, which is the same with all the visits I have taken. It was great to see the coaches coaching the players. The freshmen had reported that day; that was cool to watch. The campus was nice and their recruiting coordinator did a very good job. I got to see a lot during my visit.”
And the Colorado State trip, how did that turn out?
“It went well. We got there in the morning. I believe they have facilities that can rival Pac-12 and Big 10 schools – they have very nice facilities at Colorado State. The campus is neat and open; I like that. Fort Collins is a very cool town.”
When you’ve been meeting and chatting with the different staffs, what are college coaches telling you they like about your game?
“They like my ability to be mobile for my size. They also like my aggressiveness and my ability to get to the backer.”
As you take more and more visits, what are some of the things in the recruiting process that are becoming more important to you?
“What is more important to me as why those coaches want me. Is it just about football, or is it about the person and the student I am including football? I want them to be supportive of me outside of football.”
What are you looking at or seeking to learn when you take a visit?
“I seeking to learn how that environment is for me. I am wanting to see if I can fit in that program and figure out what my role would be in the program. I am also looking at my best opportunities with an education at a given school.”
Upcoming, are there any visits you may take?
“Yes. I am trying to figure that out right now with my bye week. I plan on taking an official the weekend of my bye week, but I have nowhere particular set yet.”
Did you get a chance to max out over the last couple of months?
“Yes. My bench is 295, my squat is 435, and my power clean is 250.”
What did you end up with as a cumulative GPA at the end of your junior year?
“My GPA is a 3.9 and I am retaking the ACT in September.”
Looking ahead, how are the Titans looking in summer practices?
“We are looking very strong in our skill positions and we have a very solid trenches unit on both sides of the ball. I am very confident in our line as a team. We have been playing with each other for a long time now. We have that trust in each other.”
What can the fans expect of the team this season?
“They can expect to see us flying around the field. We will be moving the ball on offense and the defense will be locking up offenses and delivering big hits.”
Which games on the schedule are you already hyped to play?
“I am very excited to get one final shot at Mission Viejo this year. My group of core guys being the leaders, that will be a battle that I will remember for a long time.”
Justin, always great catching up with you. I appreciate your time and wish you success this season.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Williams family; Justin Williams at Boise State and Colorado State