Scooby Williams' 'Unique' Skill Set Standing Out in Gators Spring Camp
Photo: Jay Bateman and Scooby Williams; Credit: Zach Goodall
The end of the 2022 season allowed for more freedom from a personnel standpoint at Florida. It included some youth injection as underclassmen became more familiar with the defense.
More of the same has already gone down this spring, with Scooby Williams' name circulating more as the offseason wears on.
A prep pass-rusher out of Birmingham (Ala.) Ramsay High School, Williams has transitioned to more of a traditional off-the-ball role in college. Now, the redshirt sophomore is working multiple positions at the second level, almost a combination of his total talent.
"He's played the Sam [linebacker] in some of the bigger personnel groupings," head coach Billy Napier said on March 11.
"I do think he's got situational — he's a sub-rusher. Scooby's 6-[foot]-2, two and a half. We threw him out there a little bit at the end of the year last year. I thought he's got a knack for rushing the passer. But I still think the guy can play inside backer, plus Sam and sub rusher."
Williams worked in eight games last fall, twice as many as he did in 2021, collecting 14 total tackles. He appears to have taken a considerable step after the role-increased season, especially with inside 'backers Derek Wingo and Teradja Mitchell being limited to varying degrees throughout the spring
"The guy that's jumping out right now is Scooby Williams," his position coach Jay Bateman said on April 4. "Scooby is a really unique player. At the end of the season, we were doing some pretty creative things with him. He has a chance to be really good...
"It's a really, really competitive room with some really good players."
As Napier suggested, Bateman also sees a dual role for Williams working inside and out on occasion. It comes with quite the mental acumen considering the Alabama native could line up at different spots against different looks.
“Scooby’s very smart," Bateman said. "What we're asking Scooby to do right now and what we will ask him to do during the season, I think very few people can do. We literally have calls where he’s playing one position and based on the call he goes and plays another position.
"Scooby, he’s got that 'aw shucks' about him, but he's a really bright kid and a really talented kid.”
While the calls and traditional linebacker duties are becoming more familiar, that sacking mentality from Williams' athletic foundation is something edge rushers coach Mike Peterson continues to campaign for as his room — which housed just outside linebackers last year — absorbs the team's defensive ends entering 2023.
"Scooby's a guy, I've been kind of trying to get my hands on him," Peterson said. "But he's doing good for us. He's with Bateman. But he's doing good."
The third-year player himself acknowledges the comfort that comes with familiarity — even while versatile — but this spring he is looking to take the next step from a responsibility standout well beyond his own assignments.
“Being more vocal," Williams said. "When I got here out of high school, I was never like the loudest person. Being here, being a key player in the defense, you gotta be vocal. The Swamp gets loud; practice gets loud. You just gotta be vocal on and off the field.
"Your teammates feed off you; they feed off me. So just being up on my guys, my teammates and my coaches.”
The improved impression Williams has registered in Gainesville this spring isn't just coming from Napier on down, fellow second-level Alabama native Shemar James says the growth is to the point he won't bet against any linebacker-type role for Williams.
“Scooby, he can do it all," James said. "He can play inside linebacker, MIKE, he can play STAR. Like, it’s going to be hard to find something he can’t do. So I’m glad to be playing next to Scoob, I’d hate to play against him.”
The 2023 Orange and Blue Game is set for April 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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