On300 EDGE Ashley Williams Jr. sees a path to the field at Auburn
On300 EDGE Ashley Williams Jr. was confident in his decision when he pledged to Nebraska back in June. However, time spent back in SEC country provided Williams with an even clearer picture for his future.
Williams, a four-star EDGE defender from Louisiana powerhouse Zachary (La.) High School, flipped his commitment from Nebraska to Auburn within 72 hours of returning back home after taking in Big Cat Weekend on the Plains and leaving with a conviction that he finally found what he was looking for in his college decision.
That message was made loud and clear by none other than Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin.
“Auburn made it to where it’s one of my main schools and the opportunity to play early with a lot of EDGE guys leaving, that definitely stuck with me throughout the whole visit,” Williams told On3. “The weekend helped to build a stronger bond with the coaching staff, including Coach Harsin. He really just talked about how much he wanted me to play on his team and to be a part of his program.”
On the visit, Williams was shadowed by multiple members of the Tigers’ defensive staff, namely Coach Roc Bellantoni, who oversees the EDGE position. Echoing the sentiment from the other coaches, Bellantoni made it clear that On3’s No. 34-rated EDGE could be an impact player for Auburn.
“What stood out with Coach Roc was when he told me that if I go to Auburn, I would have to be on my A game because they are gonna need me first thing my freshman year,” he exclaimed. “Afterward, Coach Roc showed me film on how I would be their defense in the future. I have a great relationship with Coach Roc and the majority of the defensive staff at Auburn as well as Coach Harsin. I had a great time over there and got the opportunity to meet all the coaches on the staff.”
Williams is the No. 20 overall player from Louisiana, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.