Rivals.com – Stanford heads east to pick up a commitment from OL Joshua Williams

“I’ve been raised in a way that I put academics as a main point of what I look for in a college,” Williams said. “If I had to put down what I want in a school, I feel like great football and great academics are the most important part. I think Stanford does that very well.

“Coach Netter and coach D’Onofrio are the guys on the coaching staff I’m closest with,” he said. “It’s kind of like the way that they kind of refer to me. They’re always respectful. They’re in California but they come to see me often and they’re always so nice. They always have the best energy. I’m a pretty energetic guy but they’re able to match it and be fun. They’re not just coming to me as a coach, but as a genuine guy or, a person, or a friend.

“When I went there for a visit over the summer, I got to sit in their meetings and then on the field too,” said Williams. “I noticed that all the linemen, after I got to really talk with all them, are close knit as a group or unit. I kind of wanted to see or gauge what it’s like to be a teammate of one of those guys and it felt like, genuinely, that the offensive line was a machine, one giant machine. I remember watching practice and all the line was like all in one place. I saw the coaches out there making small tweaks. It was great to see.”

Stanford pulled off a big win on the recruiting trail by landing a commitment from Williams. Michigan and Penn State were oping to sign him but the academics and relationships in Palo Alto tipped the scales in favor of the Cardinal. Williams, who plans on studying economics, hasn’t been on campus in a few months but the coaches, environment, and camaraderie among the players left a lasting impression. At 6-foot-4, 290-pounds, Williams will have some work to do with the strength and conditioning staff before he’s ready to see the field but he has the size, technique, and physical tools to be able to compete at a high level.