Kyle Williams Verbals To Iowa
It might not be a stretch to say that the Kyle Williams commitment today to Iowa brings the most highly rated recruit of the Kirk Ferentz Era.
Rated by Rivals.com as the #12 player in the entire country, the 6-foot-2 and 220 pound linebacker from Bolingbrook, Illinois turned away offers from Miami, Fl, Ohio State, USC and many others.
“I just felt that Iowa was the place for me,” Williams said. “It feels great to be a Hawkeye and I am just really excited.”
He made the call to Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz, who for a moment appeared to be speechless.
“I called him up and he told me he was a little surprised. He kept telling me over and over how fantastic the news was and that this would really help them in recruiting. He said that I made his week by committing.”
After speaking with Ferentz, “Bonecrusher” Williams spoke with each Iowa assistant who were all equally as excited with the news.
Williams had planned to take his visits this fall and winter, but he just felt that there was no place that could top Iowa City.
“That was the plan (to take visits). In my heart I knew that Iowa was where I needed to be. That is the place where I wanted to play. I love the players and the coaches there. I talk to A.J. (Johnson, his former high school teammate) all of the time and he says that since he has gotten on campus at Iowa that the coaches have been great to him,” Williams said.
That final piece of selling Williams on the Hawkeyes may have been his visit to Iowa City this fall for an open practice. Fans seeking his autograph mobbed “Bonecrusher” and it really left an impression on the high school senior.
“It really played a big role. I am a high school kid and the Iowa fans treated me like I was one of their own. I never expected it. The fan support there is amazing. If they are treating me that way now, I can’t imagine how good it will be once I get there,” said the very excited Williams.
The excitement in the Williams voice grows very noticeably when he starts to talk about playing with Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway next season.
“I cannot wait to play with those two. I get real excited just watching them on TV and the way they play. I can’t wait to be part of that. We are going to be one of the best linebacking groups in history,” Williams said.
Thus far this season Williams had led Bolingbrook High School to a 5-0 start including an impressive win this past Saturday over highly ranked Thorton High School. Williams is Bolingbrook’s leading rusher with 775 yards and eight touchdowns in five games. On defense he is averaging around ten tackles a game, he has one interception, three sacks, and one fumble returned for a touchdown.