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Williams Weighing His Options

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By NICK WILLIAMS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 5, 2008

TAMPA - Anthony Williams is approaching the biggest decision of his young life.

The standout receiver and rising senior at Chamberlain has received eight scholarship offers and in the upcoming months, will have to decide where he will play football at the next level. But he will consider more than which institution has the best facilities or which can guarantee playing time.

Williams, the youngest of three siblings, has the opportunity to be the first in his family to earn a college degree.

That's why the 6-foot-3, 205-pound receiver is taking his time.

"I'm not in a rush to make a decision," Williams said. "Once you leave high school, it becomes a business. It's going to have to be the best fit for me. I want to make my mom happy."

Williams transferred from Jefferson to Chamberlain in January. His junior year at Jefferson, he was fourth on the team in receiving with 38 catches for 388 yards and three touchdowns. He was also close friends with former linebacker C.J. Mills, who was shot and killed in his driveway April 25, 2007.

"I was supposed to be with him the day it happened," Williams said.

The Chamberlain staff chose not to play Williams in the spring jamboree, but that didn't hurt his recruiting. College coaches already liked what they saw during spring practice.

"They like how big my hands are and my size in general," he said.

He received his first offer from Georgia and after that, the offers kept rolling in.

"I got my first offer on a Tuesday and then by the next Tuesday, I had six offers," he said. "It seems stressful but it's fun right now."

Arkansas, Georgia and Ole Miss are his top three schools, "but it can change," he said.

This season, Williams, known as "T.O." by teammates, will be in a new system at Chamberlain, which likes to run the triple option. With the departure of Fred Sykes (Illinois) and Francisco Llanos to graduation, Williams gives the Chiefs another playmaker on offense, and it's easy to see why. Athleticism runs in the family.

Armwood rising senior quarterback Mywan Jackson is his cousin, as are 2008 Hillsborough High graduates and all-county defensive first-team selections Chuck Grace and Marc Thomas.

Many recruiting Web sites list Williams as the highest-rated wideout in Hillsborough County.

"He makes things happen with the football," Chamberlain coach Billy Turner said. "He's big and strong and his hands are like glue. He's coachable and he always reacts real positive."

Williams earned his nickname as a freshman at Jefferson, when coaches noticed he resembled Dallas Cowboys' star receiver Terrell Owens. But if the Chiefs don't throw to him on every play, don't expect this T.O. to react the way the real T.O. would.

"I don't yell at Dontae Aycock to throw the ball," he said, jokingly. "Off the field, I don't act like him."

Reporter Nick Williams can be reached at (813) 865-4848 or nwilliams@tampatrib.com.

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