Williams starts focusing more on college recruiting

By Dave Fawcett

Published: November 27, 2008

As De'Antwan Williams sorts through the recruiting process to determine his future college football destination, some things are getting clearer, while others remain up in the air.

The Woodbridge High School standout has narrowed his choices down to five schools, Alabama, West Virginia, Maryland, Pittsburgh and Rutgers.

At the moment, though, he only has one official visit lined up and that's to West Virginia the weekend of Dec. 6.

Williams was scheduled to take his first official visit this weekend to the nation's top-ranked Division I college football team, Alabama.

But he canceled that trip last week after deciding that it wasn't the best time to go. Williams didn't cite a specific reason other than to say he needed to catch his breath for a moment after a long season.

The Vikings finished the year at 11-1 a week ago following their 24-20 loss to Osbourn in the Division 6 Northwest Region Final.

"There's too much going on," said Williams, who admitted he's frustrated that he's had to now cancel trips to Alabama three times, two of which were scheduled as unofficial visits. "I've missed the last couple of Thanksgivings because of football so before I go off to college, I want to spend time with family."

Woodbridge head football coach Keith King said he believes Williams is re-evaluating what might be the best fit for him.

"I think Alabama is on the backburner right now," King said. "I told him there are a lot of things he's got to look at to choose a school and not just who is No. 1 in the country. There are a lot of scenarios that have come up over the last couple of weeks and I've told him don't let people influence you because Alabama is No. 1."

Proximity to home could be one of those factors, King said.

"He's going to make a more evaluated opinion on what to do," King said. "During the season, you don't have time to think about it. Now, he has more time to think about the future."

King emphasized to Williams that he look at a program to make sure it meets his academic needs as well as offering him the right playing opportunity.

"He has to ask himself, 'Is this the best fit for me, will I step out on the field any time soon?' " King said. "Any athlete wants to be competing immediately."

Williams, who is rated the nation's No. 13 running back by Rivals.com for the class of 2009, said he would like to make all five visits, but added he may not feel the need to do so if he finds the right fit beforehand. He has not scheduled any other official visits other than to West Virginia.

"I am looking to take all the visits, but you never know," said Williams, who in four years at Woodbridge rushed for 6,909 yards, which ranks sixth all-time in the state and third among Group AAA rushers. "[Making a decision] could be any time now."

While Williams sorts through the decision-making process, college programs have kept expressing their interest in him, even in unconventional ways.

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano and two of his assistants were flown via helicopter from New York City to the Woodbridge practice field Friday, Oct. 31. With flares guiding the helicopter in, the Scarlet Knights' coaching staff arrived at the field around 6 p.m., 90 minutes before the Vikings' home game against Freedom.

Schiano and his coaches stayed until the third quarter before heading back to the Woodbridge practice field and departing in the helicopter.

By the time they had left, the coaches had seen Williams practice and play before he sat out the second half with an ankle injury.

Williams said Rutgers impressed on him that he was the only running back they were recruiting for the class of 2009.

"It was weird and cool," Williams said in seeing the Rutgers' coaches arrive in the helicopter.