Scouting Report and Highlights: Gators DL Commit Amaris Williams

What skills does Clinton (N.C.) defensive end Amari Williams bring to the Florida Gators trenches?

Clinton (N.C.) defensive end prospect Amaris Williams was one of seven commits to pledge to Florida during a 55-hour span this past weekend. However, of those who professed their loyalty to the Gators, Williams was arguably the biggest surprise of anyone not named Jamonta Waller.

The shock, essentially, was a product of the lack of face-to-face communication between the two sides prior to his June 16-18 official stay in Gainesville. He had never stepped foot on campus before then.

However, his interest in the Florida program was well-documented. Before his official visit, Williams went as far as to name the Gators the leader in the clubhouse for his services, pointing toward the bond he had built with ace recruiter Jay Bateman and position coach Mike Peterson (edge rushers) away from UF.

But, it never seemed like enough to warrant a commitment this summer. But, it was.

After just 24 hours on campus, Williams cashed in on his evident love for the program by going public with his decision on Saturday evening. Billy Napier and Co. welcomed the pledge with open arms — and rightfully so, as they're now set to acquire an uber-dynamic first-level defender.

All Gators takes a scout look at Williams' junior season tape to analyze what he will bring to Florida's defensive line when he arrives on campus following his senior season.

Scouting Report: Gators DL commit Amaris Williams

It's not often you find a lineman of SEC caliber who doubles as a running back at the high school level. However, the Gators found just that in Williams. 

He is the future at 'F' defensive end, the strong-side edge rusher. 

As the second commit among a star-studded group of seven pledges from Saturday through Monday, Williams' impact in 2024 may go unrecognized or under-appreciated due to the hectic 55 hours.

Well, that's not the case at All Gators.

Williams is one of the most unique prospects AG has evaluated in recent memory from a stature and skill set standpoint.

Standing at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Williams is an imposing first-level defender who looks like a first-off-the-bus candidate, given his muscular build. The weight is well-proportioned, with a concentration of muscle in his lower half, allowing him to establish a firm anchor against the SEC-caliber offensive lineman he's set to face at the next level.

To take matters a step further, not only does Williams look the part, but he plays the part.

He encompasses desirable traits from both speed and power rushers operating at the collegiate and professional levels at defensive end in the modern era.

Operating foremost with an impressive blend of burst and anticipation to fire off the ball, Williams is a sudden mover who builds up steam in a hurry to penetrate backfields from all positions in the trenches. 

He has aligned anywhere from edge rusher to nose tackle at the prep level, finding success in abundance at each spot as he uses his lauded quick twitch to wreak havoc in the backfield or set the edge from either end spot.

That's evident by his 65 tackles, 44 tackles for loss, 18 sacks, one pass breakup and one forced fumble recorded as a junior.

On the opposite side of the coin, Williams isn't one-dimensional. While his speed and agility are the parts of his game that pop off the tape, he's equipped with striking strength on first contact. It frequently results in planting whoever he faces on their rear end while he blows up that side of the backfield or pocket.

The versatility bodes well for his inclusion in the Gators' defensive front in the future, as defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong possesses aggressive play-calling tendencies in a multi-front scheme. His aforementioned raw power and small hit radius for interior offensive lineman could result in Williams moving inside on pass-rushing downs to present favorable mismatches for Florida.

Offensively, where he spent considerable time at running back for Clinton over two varsity campaigns, Williams also excelled.

While he won't assume those duties at the next level, the powerful, well-built lower half he showcases and breakaway speed (reported 4.7-second 40-yard dash time) in the open field as a ball carrier will surely be helpful for his tenure as a defensive end.

The latter particularly applies to his closing speed on ball carriers and passers. 

Pairing that with noticeable fluidity in his lateral movement as a one-cut-and-go-type back, Williams' athleticism is unparalleled relative to the pieces occupying spots at the 'F' end spot on the Gators' defense — Justus Boone, Tyreak Sapp and Kelby Collins.

It shows when he's forced to slide sideline-to-sideline along the line of scrimmage.

The only major knock on the Tar Heel State standout is his technique's polish. Although, many prep players struggle in that area as they elevate from high school to college, especially those not located in states that pour immense resources into development for high school athletes, like California, Georgia and Texas.

In his case, the evident athleticism and power gap he imposes on his competitors allows him to win off sheer natural ability. But, implementing fundamental skills into his game shouldn't take much work from the Florida staff.

Despite being rated as the nation's No. 187 overall player per 247Sports Composite rankings — and sought after by several top-tier programs — he may not be ranked highly enough to accommodate for the multi-faceted impact he makes on the game.

As he continues to grow, Williams is slated to be a premier difference-maker in the Gators' defense for years to come. He's already a sleeper candidate to earn his way into the rotation as a freshman in the 2024 season. 

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