Rams add Tennessee athlete
Prior to flying out to Colorado State for his official visit this weekend, Domonique Williams knew he would be committing to CSU. The Knoxville (Tenn.) Fulton product made it official on Twitter Sunday when he announced his intent to sign with CSU this month.
I WILL BE LOCKDOWN FOR @CSUFootball . #Committed 🌹🐑 pic.twitter.com/r9yV2IITHj— -ωιℓℓιαмΔ (@dom21_) December 13, 2015
Williams, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete that starred on offense, defense and as a return man in high school, was originally part of the 2015 recruiting class. He was grayshirting this year due to not qualifying at Eastern Kentucky, but he had since parted ways with EKU and the Rams became the clear favorite to land him this fall.
The versatile playmaker took his first trip out to CSU this weekend. Although he knew beforehand that he would commit, he wanted his father to experience CSU with him before making everything official.
"Well, I knew I would be there from the jump," Williams told GGN. "But just being around the players, feeling the family atmosphere that the team put out, how Bobo is so close to the team - he's not just a head coach. With us, he was around us a lot more than a normal head coach would be. Then, just the connection he's got with the players.
"Also, it was how the players just embraced me and the other recruits, like we were just one of them."
He was recruited out of high school last year by CSU cornerbacks coach Terry Fair at the University of Tennessee. Fair continued to recruit Williams when he came to CSU, and once it became finalized that he would qualify, CSU put the fullcourt press on Williams to secure his commitment.
Williams is not sure when exactly he will sign his letter of intent, but he anticipates being enrolled for classes at CSU on January 19.
On his official visit, his primary host was CSU sophomore linebacker Kiel Robinson, although he had the pleasure of spending large chunks of time with several other Rams.
"I got to hang out with Kiel," Williams said. "I wasn't just with him. When I was with him, we (were) with all the dudes, like Rashard (Higgins), Shun (Johnson), and then Jordon (Vaden). We just all connected. We ate at Bobo's house together, all of us recruits. We (were) all first meeting each other, but it was like we all had known each other for a long time. That's what it's all about, knowing that I'll be comfortable somewhere with them."
Williams and his fellow recruits got the royal treatment on their visit.
"We watched a practice and we saw videos of the stadium. The stadium will be amazing. Then we saw the new uniforms that they're going to get."
Now that his commitment is in hand, Williams said he is done with his recruitment.
"It's over with," he said. "I'm fully Colorado State."
Williams is being recruited as a cornerback, but with his past success as a receiver and punt returner, he could find himself in another role besides corner.
"We didn't talk about offense, but I was talking to the special teams coach (Jeff Hammerschmidt) a lot when I was down there. Besides cornerback, hopefully I get in to the return game. I did that a lot in high school."
As a senior in 2014, Williams rushed for 403 yards and seven touchdowns, and caught 30 passes for 682 yards and another 12 scores. Defensively, he collected 21 tackles and had 13 pass deflections. He also averaged over 23 yards per kickoff return - including a long of 97 yards - and 21.7 yards per punt return.
Williams starred for a 15-0 Fulton team that won the Tennessee state championship.
Now that he can finally begin his collegiate career, Williams said he is excited to begin playing football again. He spent the past year focusing on getting in shape with the aid of a personal trainer, while taking online courses to become eligible.
He will be considered a true freshman when he steps foot on campus next month.
"I'm more than excited," Williams said. "I wasn't ready to come home; I would have stayed out there if I could. I can't wait to get back out there and I haven't played football in forever. The last game I played was the state championship my senior year. I just want to play. I've gotten so much better off the field as a player, working out with my trainer Chris Creese every day."
Ryan Krous is the publisher of GoldandGreenNews.com. You can email him at ryan.krous@gmail.com or follow him on twitter @RyanKrous for all the latest and breaking Colorado State news.