Tennessee’s coaching staff is targeting the state of Louisiana hard in the 2020 recruiting cycle. The Vols are making several prospects from the state a priority in this class, and one of the top athletes from the Pelican State is in Knoxville again.
Joel Williams is a four-star athlete who plays for Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge. He’s visited Knoxville before, and he tweeted out on Wednesday that he was on UT’s campus yet again.
University Of Tennessee?
….I’m here— Joel Williams? (@sayyjoee) April 24, 2019
According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Williams is the No. 205 overall prospect and No. 12 athlete in the 2020 class. He’s the No. 7 overall player in the state of Louisiana according to those rankings, and he’s also the No. 1 athlete in the state.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back/wide receiver holds offers from nearly four dozen programs across the country. Some of the top teams that have offered him are LSU, Georgia, Florida, Auburn, Oklahoma, Florida State, Texas, Texas A&M, Penn State, and Oregon.
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Wednesday isn’t the first time Williams has been on Tennessee’s campus. He also visited back on March 4th and came with some other Louisiana prospects at the time. He’s also taken unofficial visits to LSU, Florida, and Texas A&M in 2019, too.
When looking at Williams’ film, it’s easy to see why he’s valued so highly by so many programs and why he’s the top athlete in the talent-rich state of Louisiana. Williams’ big frame separates him from many other players both on offense and defense, and he uses his size and speed to dominate. Williams has very good instincts on defense and plays physically there. He won’t let receivers push him around, and he contests passes with ease. On offense and special teams, he uses his good vision and athleticism to create big plays.
Knowing Jeremy Pruitt and his staff at Tennessee, Williams is being targeted as a defensive back rather than a receiver. But his versatility is a huge plus, and Pruitt has stated before he likes to get defenders who have experience playing on offense as well. That description fits Williams perfectly.
Along with Williams, the Vols are also targeting several other highly-rated recruits in the state of Louisiana. Four-star defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy, four-star receiver Koy Moore, four-star safety Major Burns, and four-star linebacker Brandon Williams are the most notable Louisiana prospects who Tennessee is targeting in the 2020 class.
