🏈 AJC.com: Kellin Williams interview

[Guest]

A short little piece the AJC did to follow up on their in-state lineman.

Holding no grudges against Georgia, Alabama commit Kellen Williams said UGA may have been a little more attractive had he been able to meet coach Mark Richt during his junior day visit.

“That was the only junior day visit I took where I didn’t meet the head coach,” he said. “I still haven’t met him. I’ve been in Coach [Nick] Saban’s house, and I just didn’t get that family feeling like we did in Tuscaloosa. I guess I wasn’t a high prospect on their radar.”

The 6-foot-4, 297-pound Brookwood offensive lineman still views Georgia as one of the premier programs in the country and he has the utmost respect for the coaching staff in Athens.

“I have the utmost respect for Coach Richt and Coach Searles,” he said. “Alabama was just the right fit for me.”

Williams talked about to the AJC about the recruiting process.

Q. If you could give a junior only one piece of advice about the recruiting process, what would it be?

A. Make sure you commit where you want to go. It’s kind of like a marriage. Once you say I do you are in it for four years. Also try and commit before your senior year starts, so you have less stress and you can enjoy playing football.

Q. What was the most creative thing a school or coach did to get your attention?

A. Coach Collins from Central Florida would send me hand-written letters every four days or so and he drew beaches saying, ‘Wish you were here.’

Q. What’s the biggest secret you kept during the recruiting process?

A. I didn’t want to tell any of the coaches that were recruiting me that I was waiting on a scholarship offer from Alabama. I had to tell these coaches that I was still interested in their program but the whole time I wanted to go to Alabama.

Q. If you were in charge of the NCAA, what’s the one rule you would change with recruiting?

A. I would allow head coaches to come and see you at spring practice. It’s a shame they allow assistants to see you at spring practice but not the head coach. It’s also a shame they really can’t talk to juniors. You should be able to talk to coaches when they ask your coaches about you.

Q. Who was the best player you ever played against in high school?

A. Eric Eberhardt from North Gwinnett. He plays at Wofford now. He had a motor on him. He played defensive end, and he would utilize the swim move and spin move. From that game alone, he was one of the reasons I worked so hard on pass protection.

Q. What was your biggest regret during the recruiting process?

A. No regrets. I really thought I handled it well.

Q. What was the best single experience you had on any of your recruiting trips?

A. During my official visit to Alabama, they let us put on a jersey and walk through the tunnel. There was no one in the stands but the highlight films were playing and it made me ready to play at the next level.

Q. Did Saban save a number for you?

A. I’m not a number guy. I’ll wear 00 if I can get playing time. I know some guys are big on that but not me.

http://blogs.ajc.com/recruiting/200...mily-feeling-at-uga/?cxntfid=blogs_recruiting

 

[alagator]

A. During my official visit to Alabama, they let us put on a jersey and walk through the tunnel. There was no one in the stands but the highlight films were playing and it made me ready to play at the next level.

Isn't that against the rules?

Kind of like the 'game simulation' stuff at Tennessee (running through the tunnel with the smoke and all).

 

[Guest]

A. During my official visit to Alabama, they let us put on a jersey and walk through the tunnel. There was no one in the stands but the highlight films were playing and it made me ready to play at the next level.

Isn't that against the rules?

Kind of like the 'game simulation' stuff at Tennessee (running through the tunnel with the smoke and all).

I thought about that too, but I was thinking as long as they didn't personalize the jerseys with names it was ok. Wasn't there a picture of the '09 recruits all in Bama jerseys?

 

[UAgrad93]

I think no rules are broken as long as no one is calling their name out over the PA and as you said, no jerseys had individual names on the back.

 

[shipley00]

. What’s the biggest secret you kept during the recruiting process?

A. I didn’t want to tell any of the coaches that were recruiting me that I was waiting on a scholarship offer from Alabama. I had to tell these coaches that I was still interested in their program but the whole time I wanted to go to Alabama.

 

[BamaFan19]

A. During my official visit to Alabama, they let us put on a jersey and walk through the tunnel. There was no one in the stands but the highlight films were playing and it made me ready to play at the next level.

Isn't that against the rules?

Kind of like the 'game simulation' stuff at Tennessee (running through the tunnel with the smoke and all).

I thought about that too, but I was thinking as long as they didn't personalize the jerseys with names it was ok. Wasn't there a picture of the '09 recruits all in Bama jerseys?

You are correct sir