Ready to report: Xavier Williams
With high school graduation just about here, running back Xavier Williams is getting ready to report to Iowa City and begin his college career with the Hawkeyes. We caught up with the 6-foot-0, 227-pound Indiana native this week to discuss the upcoming move, what he is looking forward to this summer, and much more.
Q: First, what do you have left for high school right now? Or have you graduated already?
WILLIAMS: We still have a couple days of finals left. Then I graduate next Wednesday, so it’s coming up pretty quickly.
Q: What’s the feeling like for you as you wrap up your final days of high school?
WILLIAMS: It’s very exciting, but it went by very fast. I know everybody says it goes by fast, but it actually did. It’s exciting though because I’m looking forward to moving on to the next chapter and getting ready for another big step.
Q: When do you make the move to Iowa City?
WILLIAMS: I think move in day is June 8 or somewhere around there.
Q: What are you looking forward to the most in being there with the team this summer?
WILLIAMS: I’d say just meeting the rest of my teammates. I’ve met most of the guys in my class, but I haven’t met many of the upperclassmen or anything like that. Also, just getting right into things. I’m excited to meet the new offensive coordinator and learn the playbook and the system because it’s definitely a new way of doing things.
Q: Coach wise, who do you stay in touch with the most and what has been their message?
WILLIAMS: I talk to Coach Betts the most since he’s my position coach. We don’t really talk about football too much, just chop it up about life and stuff really.
Q: How about your recruiting class? Who are the guys you talk with the most?
WILLIAMS: I’ve talked to Brevin Doll, the other running back, and I’m pretty sure rooming with Joseph Anderson, the defensive end. Then we have a whole group chat, so I stay in touch with everybody a little bit.
Q: Do you play other sports after football season?
WILLIAMS: Yeah. I play basketball and this year I ran track also.
Q: Did you take some time away from track before this year?
WILLIAMS: Yeah. I ran in middle school, but then I kind of took a break and just picked it back up last year, so just my junior year and senior year.
Q: Was that just to get some extra work on speed training?
WILLIAMS: Yeah, pretty much.
Q: Did you see some improvements this year? What did you end up running?
WILLIAMS: I really only ran the 100 and the 4×100. In the 100, my best time was 11.4, and then our 4×100 team made it to regionals, so we did pretty well as a team.
Q: With off-season workouts, what else have you done and what’s been your primary focus?
WILLIAMS: I’d say just my conditioning. I want to show up in really good shape. I’ve been in the weight room too, but I’ve been doing a lot of cardio and running back drills to get ready.
Q: Coming in, what would you say are some of your strengths and then some of the things you know you need to work on?
WILLIAMS: I’d say one of my strengths is my vision because I think I have pretty good vision as a back, just being able to find the hole and get up the field quickly. Then some of the things I need to work on are just moves out in space, getting more creative, and then just my top speed to break more runs.
Q: What are you coming in at height and weight wise?
WILLIAMS: I’d say I’m 6-foot, 227 pounds.
Q: Have you found out what number you are wearing in college yet?
WILLIAMS: No, I haven’t yet.
Q: Any preference?
WILLIAMS: I mean keeping #26 would be nice because that’s been my number since my sophomore year. If I had my choice, I’d choose that.
Q: Last question, when you look back at your recruiting, when Iowa offered and you ended up committing, what was it that made that the right fit for you?
WILLIAMS: I would say just the whole vibe that I got. A lot of times when you’re on a visit, you can tell who really wants you and who doesn’t. I could tell right away that they were really interested. Also, it’s a family environment where it’s bigger than just football. Then I clicked with Coach Betts really well and it’s also not too far from home, so everything just kind of fell into place.
Williams verbally committed to Iowa on April 15, 2023, choosing the Hawkeyes over scholarship offers from Northern Illinois, Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Ball State, Bowling Green, Toledo, Miami-OH, and Old Dominion.
As a senior, Williams only played in six games due to a midseason knee injury, but still managed to have 94 carries for 669 yards and eight touchdowns for Lake Central High School.
High School Highlights
Williams is a three-star prospect with an On3 Industry Ranking of 86.34.
The post Ready to report: Xavier Williams appeared first on On3.
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