Don’t expect the Ducks to experience a crippling shortage of capable defensive backs any time soon.

After adding four defensive backs to this year’s roster from the 2019 recruiting cycle, another major wave of help in the secondary is on its way, as Oregon added a sixth verbal commitment from a defensive back to their 2020 class following Tuesday night’s announcement from JUCO prospect Bennett Williams.

100% Committed to the University of Oregon! @coach_cristobal @CoachHeyward Thank you and this program for giving me this opportunity. Ready to ball with the best defense in the nation! pic.twitter.com/m71PwHtis4

— Bennett Williams 4️⃣ (@bennettw04) October 16, 2019

A former ESPN.com Freshman All-American at Illinois in 2017, Williams was suspended for the first three games of 2018 before ultimately being dismissed from the team after appearing in just one game for the Illini last season. Though the details surrounding his departure are unconfirmed, Williams was a true bright spot on the field for a dismal 2-10 team. As a freshman, Williams led the Illini in interceptions (3) and finished the year as the team’s fifth leading tackler (64).

Now at San Mateo (Calif.) College of San Mateo, Williams was once a high school teammate of Oregon running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio, as the two starred together at St. Francis High School in Mountain View, Calif. Williams got a chance to reconnect with Habibi-Likio this past weekend, as the Bay Area native was in Eugene to experience first hand Oregon’s 45-3 runaway victory over Colorado.

Williams serves as the 21st member of the Ducks’ 2020 recruiting class, which already features a star-studded quintet of commitments at defensive back in Avantae Williams, Peter Latu, Myles Slusher, Luke Hill, and Jared “JJ” Greenfield. Though currently unranked by the Composite rankings, Williams checks in as a three-star recruit per 247’s network rankings. With his addition, Oregon now claims the nation’s no. 15-ranked recruiting class per 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings.

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:

• Not super dynamic athletically: A lightly-rated three-star recruit coming out of high school, Williams has done well to prove himself as a difference maker at the collegiate level. With that said, Williams isn’t the kind of athlete that’s going to wow you with tremendous speed, leaping ability, or agility. He’s a good, but not great, athlete who thrives more so on instincts than shear athleticism.
• Can fall in love with the big hit: Williams’ aggressive style of play can be both a gift and a curse. His physicality can produce game-changing plays, but can also leave him out of position and susceptible to big plays as a result of a breakdown in fundamentals.
• Has baggage: After a terrific freshman year in Champaign, Williams started the 2018 season serving a three-game suspension for a violation of team rules. He would return to action for one game before suffering a hamstring injury. However, it was announced shortly there after that he would be leaving the team altogether. Perhaps a change of scenery for Williams is all that’s needed, but he comes to Eugene with somewhat of a checkered past.

Notable strengths:

• Plays with an enforcer’s mentality: If you’re looking for a tone-setter in the back end of your defense, Williams is a great look. At an even 6-feet and 195 pounds, Williams is a strong tackler who plays much bigger than his listed height and weight, relishing his opportunities to smack ball carriers and receivers who cross his path. Make no mistake, the Ducks get even more physical on defense by adding Williams to the flock.
• Knack for making big plays: The past few recruiting cycles have seen the Oregon coaching staff place a particularly high value on defensive backs who have an innate ability to make big plays. Williams fits this mold to a T, and could quickly establish himself as one the defense’s top playmakers despite the presence of Jevon Holland in the secondary.
• Ultra instinctual: Williams’ penchant for big plays isn’t the only thing that seems to come easy to him. The game, in general, seems to flow to him naturally. His ability to rapidly process information and quickly diagnose plays is perhaps his greatest skill, making him one of the most impactful all-around presences on the field at any given time.

Overall outlook:

Without knowing the full details surrounding his dismissal from Illinois, from a pure football perspective, the addition of Bennett Williams is a significant one for the Ducks. It’s not everyday that you add a former freshman All-American to your squad, and though there’s some baggage that accompanies him, Williams legitimately has the ability to be a five-star level addition to the program from the moment he steps foot on campus. Oregon figures to be loaded at safety in 2020, as there are no seniors at the position in 2019 and the Ducks are set to add five other defensive backs from the 2020 class. Granted, the verbal commitments of Avantae Williams and Myles Slusher feel somewhat precarious at this time, but adding Bennett Williams to the roster stands out nevertheless. Despite the anticipated glut of talent at the position moving forward, expect the well-rounded Williams to be a player who competes almost immediately for serious playing time next fall.