2025 Galveston (Texas) Bowl five-star safety Jonah Williams could have chosen any college in the country, but on Saturday, in front of family and friends at his hometown stadium, he committed to the Texas Longhorns. After receiving more than 30 offers, Williams chose Texas over LSU, Texas A&M, USC, Oregon and Oklahoma.
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The nation’s top safety took an unofficial visit to Texas in late July, where Williams and his family got a lot of answers to their questions. Plus, having family close by helped: His older brother, Nick Williams, a former Texas baseball player who was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft, currently lives in Austin.
With Steve Sarkisian touting culture and development, Blake Gideon preaching the need for athleticism in the secondary and Texas baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle helping to acquire the 94 mph left-handed pitcher, signing Williams was the definition of a team effort in Austin.
Back in March, Inside Texas wrote about the Horns’ position on the nation’s top safety, and our own Eric Nahlin said he had heard from a source that the Longhorns were the favorites before anyone else on the market and that Texas would win at the end of the recruiting process.
What they rate him at Texas and how he’ll fit in: At 6-foot-3 and weighing about 200 pounds, Williams makes the field look pretty small, and makes other players look small too, despite playing in Galveston Bowl’s 5A Division I. Williams is a good athlete who can throw 94 mph as a left-handed pitcher in baseball, make catch coverage in the slot and make interception returns.
He would be a good fit at field safety for Texas, where his range and tackling would narrow the wide side of the field. Williams could easily drop down to the linebacker level and be productive there, but they also need him on the back end with the ability to stay back. He has the range to narrow the deeper passing windows or run alleys in run support. – Ian Boyd
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According to On3 industry rankings for the class of 2025, Williams is the No. 10 overall prospect, No. 1 safety and No. 3 prospect in Texas. On3 rates Williams as the No. 16 overall prospect, No. 1 safety and No. 4 player in Texas.
