Rutgers Football staff offers 2020 Virginia DB Nigel Williams
Rutgers Football has three class of 2020 defensive back verbal commitments in Te’Rai Powell, Elijuwan Mack and Jerrold Pough, although it seems the staff is looking for more bodies in the unit.
Collegiate (VA) product Nigel Williams picked up an offer from the Scarlet Knights on Aug. 14, his 16th in less than six months.
The 6-foot, 180-pounder spoke with The Knight Report about the offer, which was dished out by defensive backs coach Jay Valai.
“I was pretty surprised because I didn’t have much contact with anyone from the coaching staff before I was offered,” he told TKR. “Coach Valai gave me the offer and told me a lot about how Rutgers is on the rise and everything is trending upward from the new facilities to the team itself. I’m really fired up to be offered by that type of program.”
Williams, who also plays quarterback for the Cougars, stans for the Big 10 despite residing in the heart of ACC territory. He respects that Rutgers is up for every challenge in the conference because his mindset is the same.
“In my opinion, the Big 10 is right up there with the SEC as the best conference in America,” he said. “It has Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State. If you’re in that conference, you have to be able to stop the run as well as contain the guys at receiver with 4.40 speed. You don’t have that tall task in other conferences every single week.”
The Rivals three-star prospect told the site he regularly watches college football and had the chance to check out the Scarlet Knights a few times in 2018. He feels the program is close to turning the corner and what Valai said during their phone call only made him more confident in the rebuild.
“Coach Valai explained that they’re looking for kids who want to win,” he said. “I’m looking for a school that wants to win and he thinks Rutgers is going to be in contention in the Big 10 very soon. That makes me optimistic about the program and the other kids they’re trying to recruit moving forward.”
Williams has maintained focus on his Power-Five offers in Virginia, Wake Forest and UCLA, but he’s still looking for more offers and keeping his recruitment open.
He plans to schedule his official visits at a later date with his senior campaign in the forefront.