Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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PREP PROFILES Nashville (Tenn.) Father Ryan four- star safety JoeJuan Williams isn't good at just one thing — he's a good at a lot of things. That's why Williams, who is ranked as the No. 89 player in the nation, was offered by Notre Dame Feb. 23 as a defensive back. New Irish assistant coach Todd Lyght told Williams that his versatility is what thrust him up the board. "They said I can play right away," Wil- liams said. "I talked to Coach Lyght, and he told that they are going to take either three safeties and two cornerbacks or three corners and two safeties, and that I can play anywhere in the secondary — cor- ner, safety or star. You name it." And while it's an open-ended pitch for the Irish, it's one that comes with a reason. Williams fits the mold of what type of defensive back Notre Dame is looking for this cycle. Lyght and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder are searching for ath- letes with length and versatility that can play multiple positions in the secondary. Williams, who checks in at 6-3 and 196 pounds, fits the bill of a prospect with some flexibility. Alabama, Tennessee, LSU, Georgia, Auburn and Ole Miss have all offered the defensive back, but that doesn't mean the SEC schools are the only ones on the short list. "I don't have any leaders right now or anything," Williams said. "My high school is actually built a little like Notre Dame. We have the same colors and are the Fighting Irish. A lot of my people from my school go to Notre Dame. Every- one's telling me to go there." With depth con- cerns at cornerback, n i c k e l b a c k a n d safety, the biggest advantage the Irish might have in the race for the Rivals100 defensive back is potential playing time. "They told me that they are low on DBs, so if I got to Notre Dame I would plan on working hard an trying to play right away," Williams said. It's a realistic goal, and one that both Lyght and VanGorder hope will come to fruition given the needs in the sec- ondary. Williams, the No. 8 safety in the coun- try and the No. 1 prospect in Tennessee according to Rivals.com, finished his ju- nior season with 48 tackles, two intercep- tions and 11 passes broken up. — Andrew Ivins Top-100 Defensive Back Will Give Notre Dame A Look JOEJUAN WILLIAMS ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Father Ryan High School Nashville, Tenn. Status: Offered Class: 2016 Position: Safety Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 196 40-Yard Dash: 4.53 Rivals.com Rankings: The No. 1 recruit in Tennessee, the No. 8 safety in the land and the No. 89 overall prospect nationally