On3’s No. 1 safety, Jonah Williams, announced his commitment to Texas on Saturday night.
The On3 Industry five-star recruit chose to play for the Longhorns over other finalists Texas A&M, LSU, Oregon and USC.
Listed at 6-foot-3-1/2 inches tall and weighing 206 pounds, Williams becomes the 18th commit for coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff in the 2025 cycle.
“The coaching staff is amazing!” Williams told On3. “They tick all the boxes for what I’m looking for in a college.”
Williams plans to play football and baseball for the Longhorns.
The visit to Texas in July was a game changer.
When the Galveston (Texas) basketball star returned to the Texas campus in late July, it was a first-hand experience watching the Longhorns begin their march toward the top.
“You know, they send players to the league,” Williams said. “If you’re a good player, you can go to the league from anywhere, so why not do it for your home state?”
“I have a lot of family living in the Austin area, so I got to meet them.”
Future position coach Blake Gideon, with the help of defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, spearheaded the effort to recruit Williams to Texas.
“I’m close with Coach Gideon,” Williams said, “and I’m close with DC.”
Williams’ father, Billy, also spoke highly of Texas.
“I’m really impressed with Coach Sarkisian and the way he’s started to get things done. I think all of the players are really on board with what he’s trying to teach there. I’m really impressed with that.”
Williams looks like he’ll be an immediate asset for Texas.
Regardless of position, On3Industry’s No. 10 prospect was a three-way standout in his junior year. Last fall, Williams recorded 20 receptions for 474 yards and eight touchdowns, plus two rushing scores. Defensively, he recorded 58 tackles, four interceptions (three of which were interceptions for six), two fumble recoveries (one of which was returned for a score), eight passes defensed and one forced fumble. On special teams, he had two kick returns for six points and two punt returns for touchdowns.
“Jonah Williams has one of the best combinations of size, athleticism and playmaking ability you can find in the back half of a defense,” On3 scouting director Charles Power said. “He has the size of a linebacker but the athleticism and athleticism of a top-tier defensive back, so he’s very versatile and has the potential to be the queen of any defense’s chessboard.”
