St. John Bosco four-star CB Marcelles Williams covers weekend official with UCLA

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG

The heat is on in Southern California. A top 12 has been posted and official visits are already underway for Marcelles Wiliams. The four-star cornerback out of national powerhouse St. John Bosco (Bellflower) has set two official visits and completed his first over the weekend hanging with the Bruins in Westwood. More visits are being planned and a possible cut down list could be coming in June.

The Braves were one of the nation’s best last season adding more hardware to the trophy case after topping Serra (San Mateo) for a California state championship. The Braves’ four-star corner was an enforcer on defense racking up 46 stops with two picks and four passes broken up.

The offseason is about improvement for Williams.

“I am trying to tighten up everything from last season,” Williams said. “I want to be better this season and get more interceptions and get my hands on the ball more.”

Playing with 7-on-7 squad Premium, Williams applied his trade in national tournaments in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Miami.

“We won some local tournaments, but not the ones we wanted,” Williams stated. “We played better at the end of the season. We’d lose to the team that won it all in the second or third overtime. We feel like we could have won each one.”

Turning to recruiting, holding over 30 offers, teams are still applying the heat along the recruiting trail in hopes of signing Williams.

“USC, Oklahoma, UCLA, LSU, Ohio State, Washington, and Tennessee are all reaching out,” Williams shared.

Spring trips were taken to Oklahoma and Washington. The experience in Norman was detailed.

“It was great,” Williams said. “I had been trying to get out there for a while. That was my first time there, I really enjoyed it.”

Williams continued, “I was there for a day, I literally was in the facility the whole day. I stayed until around midnight. The next day, I went to breakfast with them; I had a great time with their coaches.”

The Huskies may be able to pull a family favor in the recruitment of Williams.

“Washington was great,” Williams stated. “I found out their cornerbacks coach, coach “Juice” (Julius Brown), is my uncle or cousin; that is crazy.”

Unofficial visits may be on hold with the paid for trips ramping up.

“I don’t have any set, but if I do take one, it’ll probably be to USC,” Williams shared. “I haven’t been there in a while. I have an official there planned for June 16 or somewhere around there.”

Williams continued laying out his official visit plans, “I have official visits set with USC and Oklahoma. I go to USC the week of the 16th and to Oklahoma the week before that (June 9).”

The Trojans can also play the family card with Williams, his older brother Max Williams is there as part of the 2019 class.

“Obviously my brother goes there; I am always there,” Williams stated. “I know a lot of people there. There are a lot of people I played with and a lot of people I have played against that are there. Coach Donate (Williams – DB), I have known him since the seventh grade. We have a tight relationship. Coach Donte is one of the people I mess with the most in recruiting honestly.”

Over the weekend, UCLA got their chance to influence Williams’ recruitment.

“It went great,” Williams said. “Coach Whit (Kodi Whitfeld) grew up in Carson; he’s where I am from. He is on the younger side, we fit well. He knows how to talk to me. I have a great relationship with him. Their scheme, they run NFL stuff. They are preparing you for the next level. Playing at UCLA, you are learning a lot more than at other places. UCLA is a nice place to be. They are the No. 1 public institution in the nation. UCLA is a dope school.”

Asked if the visit with the Bruins changed anything in a positive way in Williams’ recruitment, he replied, “Yes. I went there before, but they weren’t a big contender, but they’ve made a jump. They may be one of those schools.”

Looking at other possible official visits, Williams shared the teams in the running, “LSU, Ohio State, Tennessee, and maybe Washington.”

The well-deserved Defensive Back University moniker LSU has is a draw to get Williams to Baton Rouge.

“LSU is DBU,” Williams stated. “When I went there, coach (Robert) Steeples (CB) kept emphasizing how people go there and that they are not looking for the next one, they are there. LSU’s DBs are always going to the draft. Being a part of that would be great.”

A great winning tradition and prime time TV spots are helping the Buckeyes recruit Williams to Ohio.

“Since I was a kid, I have always liked Ohio State,” Williams shared. “I don’t know why but there is something about them.”

The rest of Williams’ recruiting process could wrap up within three months.

“I will probably cut down my top schools list in June, I should commit in July,” Williams said.