The somewhat injury-filled and inconsistent spring at wide receiver, in addition to the indefinite suspension of Von Pearson, have cast some concerns over the position group.
One player who may be able to have a Day 1 impact is five-star receiver signee Preston Williams, a 6-4, 190-pound incoming freshman from Lovejoy, Ga., who is ranked as the No. 3 overall receiver in the 2015 class, according to the 247Sports Composite Ranking.
But like many of the other receivers, he’ll have to battle his way back from injury this summer as well. Williams tore his ACL in a high school game last November and is currently rehabbing.
We caught up with receiver coach Zach Azzanni after the final spring practice session to get an update on Williams’ health.
“He’ll be here this summer, just like all the other freshmen, ready to roll,” Azzanni said. “We’ll see what he can do. I don’t think he’s full strength yet. Two-a-days come, we’ll see what happens, whatever the doctors tell me I can do, but if he can go, he’s going.”
Azzanni also said he’s been in touch with Williams and other signees on a fairly regular basis this offseason even as he attends to the current team and looks down the road for more recruits as well.
“Once or twice a week,” he said of how often he communicates. “Making sure they’re on track graduation-wise, school-wise, they all think they’re working out and running hard, but they have no idea until they get here, so that’s why the summer is so pivotal. They’ll be here soon, so I’m excited.”
Williams and the rest of the 2015 class are the expected to arrive around the final week of May.
