Interview: 3-Star 2020 California OL Justin Williams Updates Camps and Recruiting
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Let the actions of Justin Williams serve as a reminder for up-and-coming high school football players – if you put in the hard work and go compete, great things will happen. When the spring evaluation period began, Williams was a talent receiving interest after showcasing his skills in the trenches at guard for Tesoro High School during the 2018 season. The Class of 2020 recruit has worked hard in the weight room pushing his 6-foot 4-inch frame to 270 pounds and has continued to fine-tune his technique as a lineman. When the opportunity presented itself, Williams has taken to the college camp circuit earning three-star acknowledgement and five offers thus far. The opportunity to turn more interested college football programs into scholarship offers are coming at the end of the week with an east coast college camp trip to Yale, Princeton, Harvard, and Cornell.
After seeing Williams at a UCLA camp in July, it was time for an RNG catch-up interview covering his camp performances and growing recruiting prospects.
*Click link for April 20, 2019, RNG interview with Justin Williams
Interview
Justin, how are your offseason workouts going?
“They are going pretty well. We just started summer ball. We have a new offensive coordinator this year. We are getting used to him. I am confident in my team this year.”
What have you been focused on this summer with your training?
“My focus is keeping high energy and keeping up the intensity among each other. For me, I am refining my technique. I am getting better with my initial steps and my footwork. My main goal is to refine my technique before the season begins.”
You are working on your steps and footwork, where are you seeing the biggest improvements?
“I am seeing the biggest improvement in my initial step. I am more explosive. My hips are more solid and my hips and shoulders are straighter.”
With summer ball, how is the team looking getting ready for the 2019 season?
“It is going very well for the team. I feel confident on both sides of the ball. We are still installing plays and will continue to do so over the next couple of weeks. We will fine-tune everything before the season begins. We are working on the new terminology and changing plays.”
With the new offensive coordinator, what type of offense will the Titans have this year?
“We are still running a Spread. It is not too complicated but we can throw some new stuff in there for the season.”
I know you competed at a lot of camps this summer. Where all did you end up going?
“I went to camps at Whittier, UCLA, La Verne, Azusa Pacific, SC (USC), San Diego State, Stanford, and Cal-Poly San Obispo.”
Where did you turn in your best camp performance?
“My best camp performance was at Stanford.”
What did you do well at the Stanford camp to make it your best?
“I feel like I was more coachable and looser. That helped me perform better.”
Going to all of the camps had to be a big help learning from top college coaches. What were some of the things you learn that will help you this year?
“I have learned a lot of different workout routines and stretching routines from the different coaching styles. I have been putting those ideas together to find what works best for me on my own. With my technique, I have adjusted my stance over the last couple of weeks. I am still adjusting it now. I am trying to find that sweet spot between what each college wants and what works best for my team.”
After all the camps, which schools are showing interest in you but have not offered just yet?
“I am receiving interest from Colorado State, Boise State, Yale, and Harvard. I am taking a trip to each of those schools coming up; Boise and Colorado State later in July and I am going to the east coast for camps on Thursday.”
Which camps will you be attending on the east coast?
“I am heading down and then up. My first stop is at Yale and then I go to Princeton, Harvard, and Cornell. I might possibly make a stop to Columbia.”
How many offers do you have now?
“I have five offers: Cal-Poly, Northern Arizona, Cornell and Columbia and San Diego State offered me as a walk-on.”
Nice. Aside from the camps, did you take any unofficial visits over the late spring early summer months?
“Yes. I visited San Diego State.”
How did that visit go?
“It went very well. After touring the campus and showing me the weight room, that is when they gave me a preferred walk-on offer. Both my parents went there. I have a strong family connection to that school. I view that as a big opportunity for me. That was one of the coolest things to happen to me.”
Justin, congratulations on all the success at the camps so far this summer and with the offers rolling in for you. Good luck at the camps on the east coast.
“Thank you.”
Photo credit: Williams family; Justin Williams