Another June official visit — this time from Zachary (Louisiana) edge rusher Ashley Williams — turned into a Nebraska football commit on Sunday afternoon.
Williams, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound three-star, announced his decision on Twitter, and in an interview afterward made sure to mention the role new NU receivers coach Mickey Joseph played in getting Williams to even visit Nebraska on June 4.
Once Williams did that, “I fell in love with the place.” Lincoln seemed “safe,” much like Zachary. He found NU’s plans for him — to be a stand-up outside linebacker like current Husker Caleb Tannor — to be appealing, too.
“It felt like the right choice, like home, the first time I stepped on campus,” Williams said. “It was a great environment — no trouble around the city of Lincoln — and the coaches loved me. And I loved my position coach and the strength and conditioning coach. That’s who I’m going to be with most of the time.”
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That’s defensive line coach Mike Dawson — who also coaches the edge rushers — and strength and conditioning coach Zach Duval. Williams said he “talked a lot” with Dawson during his official visit. Dawson gave Williams a four-year plan of development in which Williams would be equally proficient at rushing the passer, playing the run and dropping back in coverage.
Rushing the passer isn’t a problem — Williams had 14 sacks last season for Zachary, the Louisiana Class 5A champs.
“I think I can get better at the run game more, though,” Williams said. “And I can develop myself more as a man during my senior season.”
Nebraska had strong competition for Williams — Minnesota, Auburn, Georgia Tech and Texas — but as Williams talked to his parents over Fourth of July weekend, NU emerged as the clear winner in his mind.
Williams becomes the 14th overall commit in NU’s class and the second edge rusher in the class alongside Elkhorn South’s Maverick Noonan. He’s also the second commit in the 2023 cycle from the state of Louisiana, where Joseph, a native of Marrero and a former LSU receivers coach, has significant ties.
“He had really good communication with me, my dad and my mom, and he really set a good mood for us to visit,” Williams said. Joseph convinced Williams to visit Nebraska.
Get to know Nebraska football’s 2023 recruiting class
OMARION MILLER
GBR Nation I’m home 🌽 @daboot02 @coach_frost @HuskerFBNation pic.twitter.com/d50B67phuW
— Omarion “O” Miller ✞ (@omarionmiller19) July 5, 2022
Hometown: Vivian, Louisiana.
The specs: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds.
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Miller is ranked No. 17 nationally at his position and No. 8 overall in Louisiana.
RILEY VAN POPPEL
The specs: Inside linebacker, 6-4, 265 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Van Poppel is ranked No. 17 nationally at his position and No. 50 overall in Texas regardless of position.
ASHLEY WILLIAMS
Hometown: Zachary, Louisiana
The specs: EDGE, 6-foot-4, 215 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Williams is ranked No. 41 nationally at his position and No. 19 overall in Louisiana.
JAIDYN DOSS
Hometown: Peculiar, Missouri.
The specs: Wide receiver, 6-foot, 195 pounds.
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Doss is ranked 83rd nationally at his position and No. 14th in Missouri regardless of position.
MAVERICK NOONAN
COMMITTED TO NEBRASKA‼️☠️🌽☠️ @julieanoonan @DannyNoonan95 pic.twitter.com/5NNujqWJV3
— Maverick Noonan (@MaverickNoonan) June 24, 2022
The specs: Edge, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Noonan is ranked No. 47 nationally at his position and No. 3 overall in Nebraska regardless of position.
WILLIAM WATSON III
Husker commit William ‘Pop’ Watson stands on the sidelines ahead of the Nebraska football spring game in Lincoln.
Hometown: Springfield, Massachusetts.
The specs: QB, 6-foot, 177 pounds.
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Watson is ranked No. 30 nationally at his position and No. 7 overall in Massachusetts regardless of position.
GUNNAR GOTTULA
COMMITTED. #GBR 🌽🔴 pic.twitter.com/HmhuE34yct
— Gunnar Gottula ⁷⁷ (@GottulaGunnar) June 26, 2021
School: Lincoln Southeast
The specs: OT, 6-foot-6, 290 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Gottula is ranked No. 43 nationally at his position and No. 4 overall in Nebraska regardless of position.
BENJAMIN BRAHMER
I am excited to announce I am officially committing to the University of Nebraska. I want to thank God for blessing me. I want to thank Coach Ruud, Coach Beckton, and Coach Frost for believing in me. I would like to thank my parents, grandparents and sisters for their support. pic.twitter.com/oozxpywt8j
— Benjamin Brahmer (@BenjaminBrahmer) April 2, 2021
The specs: TE, 6-foot-6, 215 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Brahmer is ranked No. 34 nationally at his position and is ranked No. 5 overall in Nebraska regardless of position.
BROCK KNUTSON
The specs: OT, 6-foot-7, 282 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Knutson is ranked No. 57 nationally at his position and No. 6 in Nebraska regardless of position.
SAM SLEDGE
COMMITTED🌽🏈#GBR pic.twitter.com/xRk7Bcp9aV
— Sam Sledge (@SamSledge1) February 21, 2022
The specs: IOL, 6-foot-4, 270 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Sledge is ranked No. 86 nationally at his position and No. 8 overall in Nebraska regardless of position.
DWIGHT BOOTLE II
The specs: CB, 5-foot-10, 162 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Bootle II is ranked No. 88 nationally at his position and No. 139 overall in Florida regardless of position.
HAYDEN MOORE
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado.
The specs: LB, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Moore is ranked No. 104 nationally at his position and No. 11 overall in Colorado regardless of position.
BARRY JACKSON
Hometown: Ellenwood, Georgia
The specs: WR, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Jackson is ranked No. 143 nationally at his position and No. 95 overall in Georgia.
DYLAN ROGERS
Hometown: Cypress, Texas.
The specs: LB, 6-foot-2, 232 pounds.
According to On3 Consensus, which combines metrics from four major recruiting services, Rogers is ranked No. 49 nationally at his position and No. 92 overall in Texas.
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