Long Beach Poly (CA) four-star linebacker Dylan Williams became a formidable target for Maryland last fall after the staff formally extended an offer. At the time, Williams was a committed prospect but just six days later, the 6-foot-3, 208-pound linebacker backed off his early verbal to USC and shifted his attention to entertaining a long list of suitors featuring several top 25 teams.
Although Maryland hasn’t been a normal player on the west coast over the years, Williams has kept the Terps in mind with the staff in full pursuit. “Coach [Mike] Locksley himself, inside linebacker coach [Lance Thompson] and the defensive coordinator [Brian Williams] recruit me very hard,” Williams told IBG. “The inside linebacker coach, coach Lance, he hits me up all the time. A few times a week we’ll talk, but he hits me up a lot. He came all the way out here to see me. They don’t have a lot of offers in Cali, but he came to see me three times.”
It also helps that his head coach, Stephen Barbee, had familiarity with the Terps given his coaching experience at Paint Branch High School. “I don’t know too much out there but I guess it’s near.” Still, it’s been the relationships that have driven Williams’ early interest in a future visit in mind. “I have a great feeling, great connection with the coaching staff. That’s their biggest thing, they want to get me out on campus and get a feel for everything.”
Jus wanna ball.. pic.twitter.com/z9jVRPI1xF
— Dylan Williams (@Dwill_2024) February 17, 2023
Williams added that Thompson has already sent dates for a possible official visit in June. “I may get up for that, either June 9, June 16 or June 23 so an official could be in the works.”
Alabama, Maryland, Texas A&M and Michigan are four schools that Williams is looking to get to, but he has one upcoming visit on the calendar. “I’ll be down at Miami next week. That’s the only planned trip right now.” Williams plans to take three official visits in June and preserve the final two for the fall, but knows of two schools he wants to get to this summer.
“Alabama and Texas are two that would get them in the summertime.”
In the meantime, Williams was originally planning to run track in the spring but opted to hold off to add to his frame. With a goal of reaching 215 pounds heading into his senior season, Williams joins a host of local prospects atop Maryland’s outside linebacker board. As a junior, Williams posted 79 tackles including 30 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, a pair of forced fumbles and one fumble recovery and interception.
Williams is rated a four-star prospect and a 91 overall by On3, sitting as the 192nd-best prospect in the country. He is also rated the 18th-best prospect in California and the 16th-best linebacker prospect in the country.
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