Williams to visit Ohio State

js2000

Freshman
Oct 3, 2003
870
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Word on the street is that Antonio Williams will have an unofficial visit to Ohio State on Saturday, I don't know why but maybe someone in the know can fill us all in. I don't know where the airport is at NS maybe that cow pasture next door but its gonna be busy with all these trips out of town.
 

Sleehrat84

Senior
Nov 8, 2001
3,816
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I thought he had signed with Wisconsin? First UNC, then Wisconsin....now the Buckeyes. Catawba has a plane....I think. Are they home next weekend? (COMMITMENT?)
 

BDHarris

Junior
Nov 24, 2008
921
250
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I thought he had signed with Wisconsin? First UNC, then Wisconsin....now the Buckeyes. Catawba has a plane....I think. Are they home next weekend? (COMMITMENT?)

I think that this is a good kid with some very very questionable handlers, support staff, influencing him in all of the wrong directions. This is a story that has been
 
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mbdfan_rivals121259

All-Conference
Mar 17, 2007
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For anyone who watches the player with any sort of regularity, do you think he's good enough to ever play at any of these Big 5 conference schools? I'm not convinced myself
 

wncbowhunter

All-Conference
Dec 21, 2002
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For those that have seen both, how does he compare to Emmons from Freedom. Emmons has a gear not many have. I know they are both in the top 10 backs in the nation.
 
Apr 21, 2013
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WM has so dominated NS to a point it is almost impossible for us to answer that question. Or maybe that does answer the question. He has taken some punishment the last couple of years.
 
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Buzzard15

Junior
Sep 6, 2013
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So I'm guessing he won't play Friday at all or atleast have limited snaps? Anybody know? It doesn't matter either way. The #11 kid has better luck against WM anyway.
 
Apr 21, 2015
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Has anyone noticed that North Stanly hasn't been as controversial this year as they were last year? Ralph Jackson seemed to relish in controversy last year. Late hits, running their mouths and the score, and overall chippy play.

Ralph Jackson rode the Antonio train all the way to a 3A school. That school hasn't done squat this year except for a win against South Stanly.

Antonio is a good kid that is a typical teenager, easy to excite and prone to a good sales job. I dunno if he understands the word commitment, but many of his age considers commitment a foreign word.
 

steady99

Sophomore
Aug 31, 2003
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Don't know a thing about Williams other than what I've read on the Web, but he seems to be a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. Not that surprising that a kid from a small rural school/town would struggle to navigate the D1 recruiting process and/or second guess a decision or two. Happens every year. That said, two withdrawn verbals is going to be a red flag for any coaching staff.

Hope he lands at a good place where he can get a first-rate education and also shine in football. If it's between Wisconsin and OSU, Wisconsin is a better choice. Better state, better school, better program. They are both a long way from New London. Will not shock me if Williams ends up playing much closer to home than the B10.
 
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steady99

Sophomore
Aug 31, 2003
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BTW, love how the WM posters seem to think that Williams' ability can only be evaluated by reference to his performance against WM. Where is the "eye roll" emoticon?
 
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Apr 21, 2013
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The ability of a D1 back should be such that he is able to shine in big games against 1A competition in NC. WM is not Bishop Gorman or some other elite high school. So yes, I would expect a D1 back to light us up. Looking at recent competition, Marcelius Sutton from JK did. Jarius whatever his name was from Eastern Guilford did twice. And those guys where committed to NC State which is a far cry from Ohio State. We have seen D1 athletes to make such comparisons. If Albemarle had beaten Davidson Day and Greer had gone 6 of 26 for 83 yards and 4 picks, you would have said he wasn't ready for Florida too. That's human nature.
 

mbdfan_rivals121259

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Mar 17, 2007
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The ability of a D1 back should be such that he is able to shine in big games against 1A competition in NC. WM is not Bishop Gorman or some other elite high school. So yes, I would expect a D1 back to light us up.
Agreed, he also mightily struggled with Albemarle the last two seasons and the other top tier competition he faced. An ACC/Big Ten level runningback should be dominate against that level of competition, even playing behind an average or slightly below average 1A o-line.

I can only assume it's measurables and future projection with him because his performance in those types of games does not back up the level of offers he has. I'm not saying he won't ultimately be good enough for that level (ACC/Big Ten) but there are warning signs against it in my opinion.
 
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steady99

Sophomore
Aug 31, 2003
240
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Okay, that's a fair response though I don't necessarily agree. The earlier ones just seemed like more chest-thumping by WM fans. WM has had a good FB team the last few years. We get it.

Edit to add that I was responding to WMFootballFanatic
 

exsshs

Redshirt
May 25, 2005
2,247
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Okay, that's a fair response though I don't necessarily agree. The earlier ones just seemed like more chest-thumping by WM fans. WM has had a good FB team the last few years. We get it.

Edit to add that I was responding to WMFootballFanatic
I agree to some degree about Williams but he's had plenty of D-1 offers, and would have had more if he had not committed early (twice). You would think those D-1 scouts that make a living doing this know a little something.
 

exsshs

Redshirt
May 25, 2005
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I agree to some degree about Williams but he's had plenty of D-1 offers, and would have had more if he had not committed early (twice). You would think those D-1 scouts that make a living doing this know a little something.
Also in comparison to TA; TA didn't have D-1 offers until the playoffs of his Sr year. Scouts knew he had the athletic ability but they were concerned about all the baggage he carried. TA often came up lame during or before a big game. (ie) T-ville during the regular season of his Sr year. The offers were still on the fence so he made up his mind and ran all over T-ville in the playoffs that year and then he got the offers. Williams may have shown out a little more if he had to prove himself.
 
Apr 21, 2013
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Okay, that's a fair response though I don't necessarily agree. The earlier ones just seemed like more chest-thumping by WM fans. WM has had a good FB team the last few years. We get it.

Edit to add that I was responding to WMFootballFanatic

I see the other side of it too and I see where you are coming from. Recruiting is definitely an inexact science. He may go to OSU and set the world on fire. I'll be the first to tell you I hope he does. And I don't necessarily agree with all the chest-thumping by WM fans either and I try to the best of my ability to not do so. I try to just stick to the facts. I'm just glad we have been fortunate enough to stay in the conversation the last few years. And that is all we have to show for it to date and you will never hear anything different from me. :)
 
Oct 3, 2003
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I've seen this kid play and I'm not impressed at all frankly. Is he a good high school back? Sure he is. But he's a nobody for the most part against anybody with a pulse at the high school level from the game I saw and also from his stats.
 
Oct 3, 2003
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He makes a living tearing up inferior talent as North's schedule isn't very tough. ESPN profile also says he's been clocked at a 4.7 forty yd dash. Good kid I'm sure but doesn't pass the eye test if you are looking at him compared to other D1 recruits. He's not in the ball park. Emmons from Freedom is a beast.
 

AllAmerican(ALB)

Redshirt
Oct 7, 2002
584
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Also in comparison to TA; TA didn't have D-1 offers until the playoffs of his Sr year. Scouts knew he had the athletic ability but they were concerned about all the baggage he carried. TA often came up lame during or before a big game. (ie) T-ville during the regular season of his Sr year. The offers were still on the fence so he made up his mind and ran all over T-ville in the playoffs that year and then he got the offers. Williams may have shown out a little more if he had to prove himself.
exsshs that's not actually true. TA had a lot of offers that he didn't know about. A lot of letters were being held and not giving to him for varies reason. That stuff went on a lot in Albemarle even before TA. It a lot of the behind scenes stuff people don't know about.
 

BDHarris

Junior
Nov 24, 2008
921
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exsshs that's not actually true. TA had a lot of offers that he didn't know about. A lot of letters were being held and not giving to him for varies reason. That stuff went on a lot in Albemarle even before TA. It a lot of the behind scenes stuff people don't know about.

Wow...... I find that to be highly questionable. I doubt Coach Gaster would keep letters from a kid. The behind the scenes stuff was obviously not English class. The only offers TA had were from non D1 schools as exsshs said until after the playoffs. His recruitment was followed closely by WM followers because we had watched him since middle school. Stick to developing your NFL stable of players. You know you are the man.
 

Buzzard15

Junior
Sep 6, 2013
540
238
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The proof is in the numbers when he plays quality teams. I still don't understand how he had 171 yards last week but only played half the game.
 

btango

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2003
120,102
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I was told by an ACC coach that the reason TA had not been offered was because they were not confident he would qualify. This was early in his senior season. He stated they were keeping an eye on him as they thought he had big potential.

Set at the 1AA state title game in 2001 with a former All American defender from UNC. He said, "he is a big time player regardless of what class he is playing in."

Williams does things that make you see the natural ability. I am not sure how he will perform at an A5 school but when you get hit low as soon as you touch the ball it is often hard to shake for many big gains. I just wish he would have had better guidance as the early commitments, which are now common, are not the smart move.
 
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AllAmerican(ALB)

Redshirt
Oct 7, 2002
584
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Wow...... I find that to be highly questionable. I doubt Coach Gaster would keep letters from a kid. The behind the scenes stuff was obviously not English class. The only offers TA had were from non D1 schools as exsshs said until after the playoffs. His recruitment was followed closely by WM followers because we had watched him since middle school. Stick to developing your NFL stable of players. You know you are the man.

Bdharris please hush. You never know what you are talking about. You go by what you hear on these boards and on the street. Talk to the sources to get your info. Plenty of letters were held way before TA reached high school. Shoot I was victim of it. Just speak facts and the things you can prove. You are starting to sound really silly.
 

BDHarris

Junior
Nov 24, 2008
921
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Bdharris please hush. You never know what you are talking about. You go by what you hear on these boards and on the street. Talk to the sources to get your info. Plenty of letters were held way before TA reached high school. Shoot I was victim of it. Just speak facts and the things you can prove. You are starting to sound really silly.

Not worth the effort to have a conversation with you.
 

btango

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2003
120,102
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I am not that big on recruiting but this is somewhat crazy even in the world of 50 year old me

I wrote on this site that I felt confident he would not attend Wisconsin and would not verbal to another school but ultimately not sign there also. I am one step from being correct.

Williams made a derogatory tweet about Wisconsin's QB after the Iowa loss. The QB is from Wisconsin and it rubbed people wrong and it appears the staff let Williams know that was not the way they did things but were still strong on getting him on campus as an early enrollee. Former App State star (Rockingham County product and former NFLer) John Settle is the RB coach at Wisconsin. Wisconsin has not recruited over Williams and has been solid on him the whole time. Bottom line, why the hell are you tweeting that your future team will not be elite until the starting four year QB is gone.

Ohio State had offered Williams before but I know of another Stanly County player "offered" by a Myer team that got the silent treatment once he made his verbal and was told by current Marshall coach Doc Holliday they were not ready to accept the offer. Nothing is official until signing day.

Ohio State's main running back commitment this year is now taking all of his visits so OSU is in the hunt again. If that player commits do they shun Williams? They have a couple of other big time RBs from Ohio already commitmented but who knows how firm they are.

I wish Williams and from all accounts he is a good kid that is academically qualified. Probably would be a good idea to lay off of criticizing A5 college players when you have never played against competition above the 2A level in NC.
 
Aug 26, 2010
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With Ohio St. taking a commitment from Williams this probably means OSU was not very confident that Kareem Walker the number 1 rated RB in the country is not going to sign with OSU.
 

btango

All-Conference
Nov 5, 2003
120,102
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If Walker end up with Ohio State does Williams stick with them? Do they drop Williams for a couple of Ohio preps that are already in the fold for next season or just take all four of them?

May be the more important question is, does Williams stick with Ohio State if Kareem Walker does go there.

Jim Harbaugh made Michigan a player day one. The Big 10 is lighting up quick.
 
Aug 26, 2010
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Btango I think so.Elliott will go pro.247 sports talks about Williams commitment.OSU didn't sign a RB in 2014.In 2015 OSU signed Michael Weber #9 rated RB in country but he got hurt.

Here is a little bit of 247 article.

" Alford has been recruiting Williams for two years since Alford was at Notre Dame.

There is not a lot of running back depth currently on the Ohio State roster. Ezekiel Elliottis a junior and seems virtually certain to head to the NFL after this season as a first-round draft choice. Then there are redshirt junior running backs Bri’onte Dunn and Warren Ball. The other scholarship running back is Samuel who is a sophomore and as mentioned moved to slot this season, and the previously mentioned Weber."
 

steady99

Sophomore
Aug 31, 2003
240
171
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Will have to swallow hard when pulling for Williams in college since I detest OSU.

Did not know about the WI RB coach's NC connection. Good info.
 

Griddie

All-Conference
Oct 3, 2001
20,997
1,636
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Emmons is head and shoulder above Williams. Rico McDowell is AC Reynolds is better but he plays in the mountains and doesn't get the notoriety. Simple as that.