Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2015 RECRUITING ISSUE BY RYAN TICE Four-star safety Mykelti Williams was one of the last 2015 signees to join the recruiting class, but could be one of the first to make an impact at Notre Dame. The 6-0, 200-pounder grew up a fan of the Fighting Irish, but was told during the spring that the team did not have room for a safety and he needed to look elsewhere. He had not found a viable second option by Dec. 17, when the Notre Dame coaches told him things had changed and they were in the market for a safety. Once an offer became firm and he had a sit-down with the de- fensive coaches, Williams joked that it took about 30 seconds before he com- mitted. "It was unreal," he said. "It was just a special moment in my life, and I'm just thankful for the opportunity. "I was watching [what was happen- ing at Notre Dame], and it was a wait- ing game to see what would happen. It was actually a surprise when it hap- pened." Irish coaches have reportedly told Indiana's Mr. Football at defensive back to be ready to play right away — the lack of numbers at the safety position led to him being offered — but he's focused on just working hard when he arrives in South Bend. "I'm just ready to come in and com- pete," he said. "The cards will land where they do at the end of the day, but I'll always be working hard to get myself into a starting spot." A big senior year, where Williams pulled down seven interceptions and also rushed for 400 yards and eight scores as a part-time wildcat quarter- back, convinced the Irish to pull the trigger on the star defender. Despite helping Indianapolis Warren Central to the state title game as a junior — where he hauled in the game-clinching interception — the safety was not com- pletely healthy. "A lot of people didn't know, but my junior year, I wasn't 100 percent Late addition MykeLti WiLLiaMs CouLd Make earLy iMpaCt Williams was named the Indianapolis Star's Super Team Player of the Year and Mr. Football award winner at defensive back as a senior. PHOTO BY TOM HAUCK STUDENT SPORTS