Heading into the class of 2024 recruiting cycle, coach Brian Kelly made something very clear. Defensive back was a priority of his, and it’s paid off thus far. On Sunday, Kelly received big news as LSU football landed defensive back Maurice Williams Jr.
LSU football lands defensive back Maurice Williams Jr
You were sorely wrong if you thought this LSU football defensive back class of 2024 couldn’t get much better. On Sunday, the Tigers received more fantastic news as they landed their seventh defensive back commitment of the recruiting cycle.
Williams is viewed as one of the best defensive backs in the country. What makes him even more dangerous is that, according to 247 Sports, he might be an even better linebacker.
Listed as the No. 109 player in the country and the No. 8 linebacker, coach Brian Kelly got a good one. He immediately gives LSU an advantage with the flexibility to play multiple positions on the Tigers’ defense.
He’s also a known track athlete, more than capable of turning on the burners. In early 2023, he was clocked running an 11.21-second 100-meter dash.
He also stands at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, so he more than has the frame to be elite at the college level. We could see him rushing into the backfield for a sack just as well as we could see him out covering tight ends downfield.
Williams Jr is the Tigers’ seventh defensive back commitment of this class
Whether Williams Jr will translate more as a linebacker or a safety at the next level is yet to be seen. Still, with four linebackers already committed to the class, I have a hard time imagining coach Kelly putting him in that spot.
So, assuming Kelly puts him in the defensive back category, where does he stack up with the rest of the class?
From a numbers standpoint, Williams Jr is the clear and away best defensive back commitment out of the group. The next highest ranked is Dashawn McBryde, another safety listed at No. 216 nationally.
From there, only one of the seven secondary commits is listed as a three-star. It’s safe to say that Kelly received both quantity and quality in this class of 2024.
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