WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Jamyest Williams posed for photos with players he battled on the field all afternoon, shook hands with the Nike position coaches that instructed him and dodged raindrops while he gathered his things and prepared to leave Westerville North High School.
Reporters flocked to the nation's sixth-ranked cornerback, wanting a few words with an out-of-state prospect Ohio State wants as part of its 2017 class. Williams hails from Grayson High School in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and was one of seven players to earn invitations to Nike's The Opening in July during Saturday's regional event.
"Been waiting for that," Williams said of his invite to the nation's premier recruiting camp.
He's been waiting for this trip north to happen, too.
Though Lawrenceville is in the northern half of Georgia, it's been difficult for Williams to get to Columbus even though he's heard from Urban Meyer and Kerry Coombs often in recent weeks.
"My relationship is very good with Coach Meyer and Coach Coombs. I just want to get up to Ohio State (Saturday) and see if I get that home feeling," Williams said. "Because I talk to the coaches all the time. I know the scheme and what they do and stuff. I just want to see if I get that feeling, see if I like it."
Williams stayed with 2017 Ohio State commit Danny Clark over the weekend in Columbus. The quarterback took it upon himself to show Williams around and recruit for the Buckeyes, as he often does.
Williams isn't the prototypical corner due to his lack of height — he is only 5-foot-9 and 170 pounds — but he more than holds his own on the outside. Saturday showed why he holds more than 40 scholarship offers, playing lockdown defense against a talented crop of wide receivers.
Jamyest Williams may be my top CB in the country: https://t.co/4BT2OSsA3M #Clemson #FSU #Spartans #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/EXAW9fk0ye
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) May 7, 2016
His ability to match up with bigger passer catchers is why Ohio State wants him as part of its plan for the class of 2017.
"(Ohio State sees me) as a physical corner, a guy who can go in there and compete and bring that dog mentality to the team," Williams said.
Williams told Eleven Warriors Sunday the biggest takeaway from his visit to campus was at last meeting and talking to Meyer and Coombs face-to-face. It all works its way into what Williams looks for most as schools from all corners of the country recruit him — a feeling of comfort.
"Coaches change every year, they might get a bigger deal somewhere else. You never know," Williams said. "I just want to get that home feeling so I can be comfortable. So I just won't be there for the coaches."
Such a situation happened in the top school in Williams' home state, Georgia. Kirby Smart is readying for his first season as the Bulldogs' head coach this fall after the school fired Mark Richt, who is now at Miami. Georgia and Clemson are believed to be the leaders to earn Williams' talent.
Williams said Smart is putting an emphasis on keeping the top in-state talent home, with an increase in intensity in not only recruiting but on the practice field.
Ohio State brings the same energy, as do other programs. And with so many offers at his disposal, Williams wants to take his time and get to the places he wants to see before he makes a decision.
"I'll probably release a list during the summer and then make my decision during the season," Williams said.
He added he wants to take trips to USC and UCLA most, now that he saw Ohio State. Coombs is scheduled to pay a visit to Georgia this week, likely to continue and implore to Williams that a top program can never have enough players in the secondary. Especially when three of them left school early for the NFL after last season.
"They said they need corners," Williams said of Ohio State. "And that's me."
