Williams has a top three that includes the Florida Gators

Several of the Florida Gators top targets for the class of 2020 was on campus on Saturday for the Gators cookout event on campus.

Defensive end Chantz Williams (6-3, 215, Orange Park, FL. Oakleaf) was one of those targets on campus and he liked the event more than last year’s event.

“It was nice, there was a lot more activities,” Williams said of the cookout this year compared to last year. “Me and mom was playing basketball and volleyball, my mom actually beat me in volleyball. It was definitely fun, I had fun.”

Williams appreciated the laid back approach to the event on Saturday that the coaching staff put on for the prospects.

“It was very relaxing that I could let my guard down, they were pretty probably recruiting me but I could just take time to be with my family,” he said on the laid back atmosphere on Saturday. “Just hang out, I thought it was really cool. I appreciate it.”

The defensive end admitted that the coaching staff was still giving recruiting pitches but Williams didn’t feel any pressure.

“We were just sitting down, they might come up to us and talk to us about stuff,” Williams said on the staff recruiting him but letting him enjoy the event. “If they’re recruiting us, it isn’t hard as they’re letting us enjoy our time. I’ve always liked the Gator grill out.”

Williams has been a frequent visitor on campus for the Gators and he explained just why he likes coming back to Gainesville.

“Florida is definitely one of the teams recruiting me the hardest,” he said on what keeps him coming back to visit. “I love being here on campus, I love coming to talk to the coaches, my family loves it.”

Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham also explained to Williams why the BUCK position is such a big part to Florida’s defense.

“Coach is talking to me about Jachai [Polite] and how he turned his stats around and tells me to imagine what he could do with me,” Williams said on the recruiting pitch for the BUCK position. “I like Coach Grantham and I love what he’s doing right now. Hearing him talk about the position that he tells me is a pretty big position and that he has high hopes for me, it’s greatly appreciated.”

Heading into the spring Williams was close to making a commitment with teammate Jalen Rivers but he’s now taking things a little slower.

“It’s kind of a reset now, I have a top 3 [Florida, LSU, Georgia] now,” he said on when he wants to make a commitment. “I don’t know what Jalen [Rivers] is doing. For me, I probably am going to make a verbal commitment before my season and take maybe one official visit. Then the rest of my official visits in December.”

 

INSIDERS TAKE: Williams says he will likely take an official visit to LSU in June and then take an official visit to Florida in December. Williams and teammate Jalen Rivers are no longer considered a package deal and that’s the reason for the reset on things.

Andrew Spivey
Andrew always knew he wanted to be involved with sports in some capacity. He began by coaching high school football for six years before deciding to pursue a career in journalism. While coaching, he was a part of two state semifinal teams in the state of Alabama. Given his past coaching experience, he figured covering recruiting would be a perfect fit. He began his career as an intern for Rivals.com, covering University of Florida football recruiting. After interning with Rivals for six months, he joined the Gator Country family as a recruiting analyst. Andrew enjoys spending his free time on the golf course and watching his beloved Atlanta Braves. Follow him on Twitter at @AndrewSpiveyGC.