Arnold's Williams set for next phase of football career

PANAMA CITY BEACH — All that remains in front of Eddie Williams is the finish line.

Well, almost.

One of the nation’s most highly regarded football recruits, the Arnold senior is zeroing in on graduation this spring. Williams is the ninth-rated high school player in the nation by ESPN.com, and he has committed verbally to play football at the University of Alabama next year.

Before he can begin that next stage of his football career, however, the biggest football game of Williams’ young life awaits him. Williams will play in the Under Armour All-American Game on Jan. 5 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. The game begins at 7 p.m. CST and will air nationally on ESPN.

Williams, 19, will play for the Herm Edwards-coached White team. Some of his teammates include Florida State commits Jameis Winston and Mario Edwards, as well as Deion Sanders Jr. and Trey Griffey, the respective sons of Deion Sanders and Ken Griffey Jr.

“The type of ability I expect to see is the best ability,” Williams said. “I’m expecting to be amazed when I get out there. That’s what I’m looking for. I’m looking to be amazed, surprised, shocked.”

At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Williams can play several positions on the field. He’s a proven playmaker in the defensive secondary, and he spent considerable time at wide receiver and quarterback at Arnold. He isn’t sure what position he’ll play at the All-American game.

“Wherever they need me,” he said. “I’m going to try to play both sides. If not, I just might play defense or I might play offense.”

Williams has attracted a great deal of attention ever since he verbally committed to Alabama in August 2010, the first player to join Nick Saban’s 2012 recruiting class. Media interviews, school assemblies in his honor, accolades from afar — it’s a lot to take in for a high school student. Now he’ll be playing in front of a national television audience before he’s even earned his diploma.

“This opportunity is a blessing,” Williams said. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase my skills, meet some other people, other coaches. ... The cameras ain’t too much. I don’t like cameras really, but I don’t worry about that too much.”

Williams contended with a shoulder injury throughout the 2011 season at Arnold, a result of a player landing on top of him as he dove for a pass in the team’s kickoff classic just before the start of the season. Williams played through the injury, though, and helped Arnold finish the season 5-5. He said the shoulder is “sensitive to the touch but other than that is all good.”

“It didn’t affect me too much,” Williams added. “I had to change up the way I did things a little bit like the way I’d throw and how I’d hit, certain things I’d do off the field. When (first injured) I could barely move it, barely move it at all. As the weeks went on, it got better and got more motion in it.”

Arnold coach James Hale will travel with Williams to the Under Armour game and serve as an assistant coach.

“He’s been an overall good coach,” Williams said. “He’s making sure I’m doing good, making sure I’m up to date on my grades. He stands behind me making sure I’m doing what I need to do to get to the next level, get to college, get out of high school.

“As of right now everything is on track with my grades. All I’ve got to do now is pass all my classes and get ready for graduation.”