Scouting Report: Gators OT Commit Mike Williams
The Florida Gators landed their first commitment in the offensive trenches on Monday when Upper Marlboro (Md.) tackle Mike Williams announced his commitment to the program just 24 hours after completing his official visit.
Williams, a former South Carolina commit, was offered by the Gators on April 7 but came off the market soon thereafter as he committed to the Gamecocks on April 19.
That, however, did not discourage the UF staff as it remained steadfast in the pursuit of the high-upside asset upfront. Florida's continued pressure applied by offensive line coaches Rob Sale and Darnell Stapleton, even during his alignment to SCAR, paid dividends, ultimately securing his commitment just two months later.
He becomes the first future protector for Gators franchise quarterback commit DJ Lagway to join the 2024 class thus far.
Williams is a towering figure, standing at 6-foot-7, 310 pounds after reshaping his body following his junior year, and fits the mold of offensive tackle prospects the new staff has looked to stack the room with since its arrival in December 2021. However, he's more than a mere big body.
To better understand the mixture of tools Williams carries to provide fruitful returns during his career in Gainesville, All Gators breaks down his film.
Scouting Report
Given his size, Williams has no trouble moving opposing defenders out of the way, often placing them on their backs as he uses his power to dominate his assignments and consistently finish blocks.
Showing the most comfort while working as a downhill blocker in the run game, Williams steamrolls first-level opponents before taking on second-level defenders with consistency to spring big plays for the ball carriers running behind him.
In pass protection, Williams does a solid job of being patient, mirroring the opposing defender and using his powerful first punch to stifle pass rush attempts. His heavy hands aid him significantly at first contact.
Equipped with a solid kick step that allows him to gain ground quickly on edge rushers who use more burst than power in an attempt to move around the end, Williams possesses the athleticism to combat players of all kinds off the edge. It's a testament to his impressive mixture of power, length and nimbleness despite the over 300 pounds he carries in his frame.
He does tend to play very upright; however, a common knock for linemen at the prep level, especially those as tall as he is. When Williams arrives at UF, he will undergo significant refinement in an attempt to lower his pad level at the point of attack to formulate the center of gravity needed to withstand the power of SEC defensive linemen.
Williams has reshaped his body following his junior campaign, and that should certainly help him progress from an athleticism and bend standpoint in the ensuing months before and after he arrives on campus.
If he can clean up his hand placement and pad level while maintaining his tenacity — which pairs well with his downhill blocking style at his size — he could prove to be a solid project addition for the Gators at right tackle and can certainly outplay his ranking.
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