4-star Auburn commit lands on National Recruiting Expert Sam Spiegelman's All-American team
Four-star Auburn edge commit Ashley WIlliams from Zachary (La.) High has seen a serious rise to recognition over the course of his senior year.
When Auburn offered Williams, he was a no-star recruit with the major recruiting services. He started out as a 3-star recruit and quickly made his rise to a 4-star recruit as he is today. More exposure came when his team was featured on ESPNU’s high school football night.
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Now, he’s made an All-American list: the All-Spiegelman team.
Williams among star-studded list
The All-Spiegelman team is an annual All-American team based on the in-person scouting done by On3 National Recruiting Analyst Sam Spiegelman.
Most of his 2023 class evaluations took place in the talent-rich states of Texas and Louisiana. Williams was one of the stand outs.
Included on the list are two other top Auburn targets: James Smith, a 5-star defensive lineman from Montgomery Carver (Ala.) High, and Jaiden Ausberry, a 4-star Notre Dame linebacker commit.
The list includes six 5-star recruits and nine 4-star recruits. It also includes commits from Texas, LSU, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, USC, and Oklahoma among others.
Spiegelman’s analysis on Williams
Spiegelman wrote an excerpt on each player he named to his team. Here’s what he said about Williams.
[ All-Spiegelman Team for 2022 regular season ]
On300 EDGE Ashley Williams Jr. is one of the ascending talents at this position in the country as he continues to flash in bunches in his senior season at Zachary (La.). The Auburn commit is On3’s No. 31-rated EDGE, and the 6-foot-5, 225-pounder was eye-catching pressuring the quarterback earlier this season in a district contest vs. Baton Rouge (La.) Woodlawn. Williams was a key part of containing QB Rickie Collins, who is a threat to escape the pocket on any given snap. He flew around the edge and collapsed the pocket on multiple occasions, and was equally as impactful in pursuit to the sideline to cut off rushing lanes.
Williams’ high motor was on display and was a key part of Zachary’s second-half shutout on defense in this game. He can set the edge against outside runs and defend out to the sideline, and his length is an issue for opposing coordinators to account for. The Auburn commit is able to outmaneuver opposing linemen and breeze around them, and he’s really just beginning to scratch the surface.
