Better Know a Buckeye: Marcus Williamson

This week's Better Know a Buckeye feature continues with a profile of Marcus Williamson, a cornerback prospect from Westerville by way of the IMG Academy in Bradenton.

Williamson is a local kid who finished his high school career at the prestigious IMG Academy but caught Ohio State's attention after his freshman year at Westerville South. Performances at a position camp and Friday Night Lights in 2014 led to a strong interest from Kerry Coombs, who finally relayed to Williamson that he had a scholarship offer in October. Williamson's mind was effectively made after an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the Michigan game. He committed at the 2015 spring game as the third member in what became Ohio State's 2017 recruiting class.

This feature will proceed in the usual fashion. I start with his recruitment, discussing how Williamson wanted to play for a winning program like Ohio State or Michigan State, the two most recent Big Ten Championship Game participants at the time. Thereafter, I discuss the reasons for his commitment. I next provide a scouting report of Williamson that details his strengths and areas for improvement. I close with projections of a redshirt in 2017 and some highlight film for the reader to watch at the end of the feature.

HIS RECRUITMENT

Marcus Williamson strives for excellence and hails from a Franklin County suburb just outside the 270 loop. This put him in Ohio State's orbit from the beginning of his recruitment. He attended a position camp at Ohio State and the Friday Night Lights event in the summer of 2014. His remarks were glowing, as was Kerry Coombs' feedback to him. Coombs told Williamson he wanted to make him a Buckeye soon.

Kentucky, as it routinely does, moved early on the Ohio prospect with a scholarship offer on September 5, 2014. It was his second offer since Toledo had offered that June. Tennessee followed with its own scholarship offer ten days later.

Williamson appreciated both programs but never indicated it would move the needle in his recruitment while he was still a sophomore. Williamson wanted to play for a winning program, highlighting that his interest focused on Ohio State and Michigan State (which had just played in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2013).

His recruitment took on an accelerated pace when Ohio State extended a scholarship offer after an unofficial visit for the Rutgers game. It was his second unofficial visit that season (Virginia Tech), though this one landed an offer he coveted. Williamson was excited for the offer. He's from Ohio and his family is comprised almost entirely of Ohio State fans. He did not name Ohio State a leader, but there was no doubt Ohio State would be a team to beat in his recruitment.

The Michigan game that season may have made up his mind more than the offer following the Rutgers game did.

"I’d say [I knew during] the Ohio State-Michigan game. I know I committed in April, but that’s when I made up my mind,” Williamson said. “That winter I kind of put it in the back of my head, but I had known where I wanted to go.”

The winter of 2015 saw pushes from Michigan State and Indiana. Michigan even offered at the end of February. An unofficial visit to Ohio State for its spring game saw Williamson decide to end his recruitment.

HIS COMMITMENT

Marcus Williamson committed to Ohio State on the weekend of the 2015 spring game, his second consecutive weekend visit. He chose Ohio State over competing offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

His recruitment mostly ends there, though Williamson did move south to the IMG Academy in Bradenton. This led to offers from Mark Richt's Miami Hurricanes and even LSU. However, Williamson's recruitment never changed course after his commitment. He enrolled in January.

WHERE HE EXCELS

Williamson's measurables suggest Ohio State eyes him as a future nickel corner.

You'll see it in his highlight film at the end of the feature. Williamson is not necessarily the fastest cornerback Ohio State will have on the roster, but he's quick and can change direction on a dime. His quickness shows in his ability to elude blockers and blow up swings and screen plays. His ability to change direction is what made him a viable special teams threat for Westerville South before he transferred to IMG.

He has areas to improve in tackling, but Williamson is at least a willing tackler in run support. He plays bigger than his frame.

MUST WORK ON

At 5-9 and 180 pounds entering college, Williamson will not fare well against bigger wide receivers. His ceiling might be at nickel cornerback. This would make it unlikely he makes an immediate contribution even if he's a viable option down the road.

Williamson is a physical player but his tackling form leaves a lot to be desired. Effort and intensity were sufficient for a cornerback of his stature in high school, but he'll need to emphasize form in college.

Finally, Williamson's ball skills are adequate at best. He'll want to make this a focus as he develops.

REDSHIRT?

Williamson will play eventually, but I think this is a redshirt year for Williamson.

HIGHLIGHTS

Here are junior-year highlights of Williamson.