A scorching hot recruiting weekend for the Ducks only got hotter Sunday, as DeLand (Fla.) four-star safety Avantae Williams pledged a verbal commitment to Oregon’s 2020 recruiting class.

 

It’s time to continue the #Florida to #Oregon pipeline! The 2020 movement has now begin #COMMITTED #GoDucks 🦆 @coach_cristobal @coachD_uofo pic.twitter.com/DUewEUNiPg

— Tae Williams (@SlowDownBoy7) December 16, 2018

The nation’s no. 2 ranked safety joins Thousand Oaks (Calif.) Westlake three-star tight end Seth Figgins as the second verbal commitment to the Ducks’ class of 2020.

With roughly a year to go before he can actually sign an official letter of intent, Williams has already compiled an impressive list of 26 offers, choosing the Ducks over notable offers from Florida, Miami (Fla.), and Alabama.

Below we take a closer look at Williams’ game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

• Can play with too much emotion at times: The passion Williams exhibits on the field is contagious and can be an asset to his team when properly channeled, though he shows a tendency to be a little over-zealous from time to time. Jawing with opponents at the end of plays and suspect hits on unsuspecting players is revealed in his tape, which could prove detrimental if not reigned in some.
• Work in progress in coverage: It’s apparent fairly quickly when watching Williams that he’s a special athlete, but if there’s an area that could still use some work, it’s his coverage skills. Though he flashes great overall potential, he’s a risk taker that can find himself out of position at times against the pass.
• Lacks ideal size: Listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, Williams is definitely on the smaller size as it relates to the prototype at safety. That’s not to say he won’t be an effective player, as there are countless examples of undersized safeties excelling at the college level and beyond, but it’ll be important that he add muscle to his frame in order to withstand the rigors of the college game.

Notable strengths:

• Versatile, game-breaking athlete: Whether it’s on offense, defense, or special teams, Williams is a big moment waiting to happen regardless of if the ball is in his hands. In every recruiting class there are a select few who can impact the game in a consistent and meaningful way from the safety position, and Williams is one of those players.
• Ultra physical: Don’t let his size fool you – Williams is one of the most physical players you’ll find at the safety position in the 2020 class. His tenacious and unrelenting style of play – along with his size – will evoke comparisons to Tyrann Mathieu, but it’s possible that Williams is even more advanced at this stage than the former LSU star was entering his senior year of high school. Williams is a player who relishes contact and prides himself on being a player who intimidates.
• Outstanding agility: One of Williams’ more special qualities is his tremendous agility. His ability to start and stop, change direction, and cut on a dime is what makes him especially dangerous as a return man or a defensive player with the ball in his hands, but it’s also what helps him play with the edge he plays with. Williams may prefer to throw his body around, but he does so with fluidity and uncanny body control.

Overall outlook:

The Oregon coaching staff has done an incredible job of landing top notch talent at safety the last three recruiting cycles. Beginning with Jevon Holland and Steve Stephens in 2018, and continuing with the potential of a burgeoning talent like Trikweze Bridges in 2019, Williams figures to be the next in a long line of premier safeties that have made their way to Eugene. In fact, if his commitment holds, Williams will assuredly be the most decorated prospect of the bunch. If, however, is the operative word here. Ranked as the nation’s second-best safety prospect in the class of 2020, Williams will have no shortage of suitors between now and when he expectedly signs at the end of the next recruiting cycle. Distance could also prove to be a considerable factor here, as the Floridian will no doubt feel a pull to stay close to home as the 2020 signing period draws near. Yet, there’s no question that Williams will have an opportunity to make a major splash if/when he arrives on campus. With Holland and Stephens likely to be junior/redshirt sophomores, and with Bridges as lone safety commitment in the 2019 class, the door is open for Williams to earn immediate playing time as things currently stand.