Butch Jones and the Tennessee Volunteers are off to a quick start in the 2015 recruiting cycle after landing one of the nation’s best classes in 2014. One of their first commitments for the 2015 class was Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy wide receiver Preston Williams, who committed to the Vols on Sept. 21, 2013.
Standout WR Preston Williams remains committed to Tennessee, but still open to other schools
Preston Williams remains a Vols commit, but says he is still looking at other schools. See what he had to say about Tennessee, Georgia, Florida and Auburn.
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Williams -- who checks in as the No. 6 overall wide receiver, the No. 10 player in the state of Georgia and No. 73 player in his class, according 247sports’ composite rankings -- recently participated in the Atlanta NFTC camp, where he earned an invitation to Nike’s The Opening this summer.
“At the Nike camp I think I performed as I should,” Williams said. “Everyone there was good and I’m not knocking anybody’s talent. There were a lot of great players and a lot of great receivers. I definitely got better.”
Williams decided to commit to Tennessee early in the recruiting process because he grew up rooting for the Vols and Knoxville felt like home for him.
“They were always my favorite school growing up. There was just something about that ‘T,’” Williams said. “I went up there and I felt at home talking to coach Butch (Jones), coach Z (Zach Azzanni), and all of them. I have great relationships with the coaches and I feel like that’s somewhere I can be.”
Despite his commitment to Tennessee, Williams is still talking to other schools, with one of which is the in-state Georgia Bulldogs. He made the trip to Athens about a month ago and came away from the visit liking Georgia more than he thought he would.
“I feel like we can talk. It’s a great place and it’s better than I thought it was when I was visiting,” Williams said.
Williams is also still talking to the Florida Gators and visited near the end of February. Williams’ relationship with Florida wide receivers coach Joker Phillips is one of the main reasons he’s still looking at the Gators.
“I like the Gators. I really like coach Joker (Phillips),” Williams said. “Florida is a great place, you can’t say anything bad about Florida. The weather is great, it’s not too far from home, and the team has won championships. I just don’t know the coaches as well. I really only know coach Joker and coach Muschamp.”
Williams also took a visit to Auburn on March 7. He likes to Tigers offense and how the team bounced back last year after struggling in 2012.
“They have a great offense,” Williams said. “I also liked how they fell off a year, but were able to come right back and make it to the championship.”
Tennessee is still the leader to land the standout wide receiver’s signature next February, however, with the three rival SEC schools trailing the Volunteers.
“Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Auburn,” Williams said when asked about the order of his schools.
In addition to the four aforementioned SEC schools, Williams is thinking about taking official visits to schools that are a little farther from his Georgia home.
“I think I’m going to take officials to UCLA, USC, Syracuse and maybe a few others,” Williams said. “I’m interested in all of them.”
USC is a school Williams has admired ever since Reggie Bush starred for the Trojans year ago. He also likes the fact that the offense features a lot of passing.
“I’ve liked them for a long time now. Ever since Reggie Bush was there,” Williams said. “I could see my self playing in their system. They pass they ball a lot too. I’ve never taken a visit, but I talk to the coaches.”
Interestingly enough, he would like to visit Syracuse, a program that has had their struggles over the years but has showed some improvement recently.
“I’ve talked to their coaches and they seem like really good guys. They want me to come for a visit,” Williams said. “I want to get out there and check out the campus.”
Williams says he’s “100 percent” committed to Tennessee right now and would like to have a final decision by the end of his football season. When he’s visiting other schools he’ll be looking for the same things that got him to commit to Tennessee in the first place.
“Where I can be the most successful and find the most relatability,” Williams said. “Then also who can use me the most.”
During the recruiting process Williams has grown closest to three SEC coaches.
“Coach Z, coach (Tony) Ball and coach Joker,” Williams listed. “Those are the main three.”
Williams doesn’t have any summer visits scheduled at the moment, but he will likely get out to see a few schools. He will then take official visits in the fall.
