Latest on 5-star Jonah Williams (Saturday 8:25 am CST)

[Gerry Hamilton]

Spoke with Galveston (Texas) Ball High 5-star safety Jonah Williams Friday afternoon. Williams, 6-3 and 204 pounds, is currently helping lead Ball High to a district title in basketball before shifting focus to baseball. Obviously, baseball is impactful in his recruitment. 

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and safeties coach/area recruiter Blake Gideon were at Ball High two weeks ago. They met with Williams and his father. 

Sarkisian's message was simple.

“It went great," Williams told OnTexasFootball Friday. "They moved me back to the safety room. They talked about with Coach Choate leaving that they are moving me back to the safety room. He had a great talk with my dad."

Williams and Gideon have been in communication for over a year with Gideon serving as the area recruiter. 

“Coach Gideon told me that I’m a top priority at safety." 

With Texas shifting the recruitment to the safety position, the Longhorns have a realistic shot. 

Williams' visit plans

Williams visited Oklahoma last weekend for the Sooners Elite Junior Day. 

He did not attend Texas Junior Day January 20, and said Friday he's not likely attending Texas A&M Junior Day this weekend. 

Williams said spring practice visits to Texas and Texas A&M are likely. 

A number of head coaches have been by Ball High to meet with Williams and family members. That list includes USC's Lincoln Riley Thursday, UH's Willie Fritz, Texas A&M's Mike Elko Thursday, Ohio State's Ryan Day last week and Oregon's Dan Lanning attended the Galveston Ball at Friendswood basketball game two weeks ago. 

 

[Gerry Hamilton]

Jonah Williams Junior HUDL:

 

http://www.hudl.com/v/2Le2ZM

[Gerry Hamilton]

 

[Gerry Hamilton]

The visit to Oklahoma was the third for Williams BTW

[Blake Munroe]

So Jonah actually plays for the same travel ball organization that my son does, Wow Factor. Here are some stats from this past year:

[Blake Munroe]

Here’s his batting velo and his improvement over the last few years:

 

[Blake Munroe]

And here is his career spray chart as a batter:

[Blake Munroe]

Important to note those are from Perfect Game tournaments only. Wow Factor normally plays a ton of PG and Five Tool tournaments!

[Gerry Hamilton]

Great stuff Blake. 

Texas was the first schools to attack baseball and football in the recruitment. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

Jonah Williams older brother will be a name some Texas fans remember ... baseball 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Williams_(baseball)

[CoachBobbyFinstock]

Body type and projection is similar to Jalani McDonald.

That makes me think… we have to find a way to get McDonald on the field.

Both kids are elite multi sport athletes.

[Quinncent McManning, Jr.]

Any idea if Williams is wanting to commit early or draw this out?  Seems like with our late pivot to recruiting him as a safety we are way behind OU, and this is feeling like a Devin Sanchez will we ever get enough time to make up the ground, type of recruitment.  

[Gerry Hamilton]

3 minutes ago, Quinncent McManning, Jr. said:

Any idea if Williams is wanting to commit early or draw this out?  Seems like with our late pivot to recruiting him as a safety we are way behind OU, and this is feeling like a Devin Sanchez will we ever get enough time to make up the ground, type of recruitment.  

Feels like June OV's and decision prior to senior season, as of today. 

Baseball is definitely going to factor into this one too. 

[closetojumping]

25 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Feels like June OV's and decision prior to senior season, as of today. 

Baseball is definitely going to factor into this one too. 

How big of a sooner lean is he?

[Gerry Hamilton]

2 minutes ago, closetojumping said:

How big of a sooner lean is he?

He's definitely feeling OU right now more. One thing I don't know right now is if OU has all the correct connections in Galveston that could be impactful here long term. 

[Baron]

1 hour ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

He's definitely feeling OU right now more. One thing I don't know right now is if OU has all the correct connections in Galveston that could be impactful here long term. 

Ya'll need a vomit icon.

[Lnghrn]

Does he likely go pro baseball like his brother?

[Gerry Hamilton]

37 minutes ago, Lnghrn said:

Does he likely go pro baseball like his brother?

Can't answer that one right now. He's definitely on the radar for MLB ... junior season and summer ball will be impactful there. 

[Blake Munroe]

1 hour ago, Lnghrn said:

Does he likely go pro baseball like his brother?

He’s definitely not an early round pick at this time, fwiw. 

[horns96]

7 hours ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Feels like June OV's and decision prior to senior season, as of today. 

Baseball is definitely going to factor into this one too. 

In terms of MLB draft or two-sport athlete in college?

[Gerry Hamilton]

4 minutes ago, horns96 said:

In terms of MLB draft or two-sport athlete in college?

Could be either … think he likes idea of both in college unless he rises to the point of his choice being made for him 

[taxsaver]

now Justin Wells predicts him to OU

[ThatHornsGuy87]

3 hours ago, taxsaver said:

now Justin Wells predicts him to OU

As a guy that graduated from Texas City, you can't trust those purple tornadoes lol

 

[El Camaron Borracho]

In reading Jonah Williams’ bio, got me thinking about other multi sport recruits and I can’t recall any starting football players that also played baseball or basketball! Any that come to mind?

[Gerry Hamilton]

10 minutes ago, El Camaron Borracho said:

In reading Jonah Williams’ bio, got me thinking about other multi sport recruits and I can’t recall any starting football players that also played baseball or basketball! Any that come to mind?

Not at Texas … Kyler Murray recently 

There haven’t been many, definitely not successfully