Arnold's Williams to play in Under Armour game Thursday

ST. PETERSBURG — The countdown to the biggest game of Eddie Williams’ life is nearing triple zeroes.

The ninth-rated football prospect in the country according to ESPN.com, Williams will compete on the White team in the Under Armour All-America Game set for Thursday at Tropicana Field. ESPN’s coverage of the event begins at 6:30 p.m. CST.

Williams, a two-way player who recently completed his senior season at Arnold, has verbally committed to play at Alabama next year. He will be joined on the Herm Edwards-coached White team by four other players who are part of the Crimson Tide’s 2012 recruiting class: receivers Chris Black and Amari Cooper, linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive tackle Dakota Ball.

Florida and Florida State also will be well-represented with six recruits apiece in the game, all of them joining Williams on the White team. The Black team features a distinct Texas Longhorn presence. Texas ranks first among all schools with 10 recruits competing in the Under Armour game.

Players who have verbally committed to UF and are competing in the game include receiver LaTroy Pittman, place-kicker Austin Hardin, safety Marcus Maye, cornerback Brian Poole, offensive tackle Jessamen Dunker and tight end Colin Thompson. Florida State recruits in the game include quarterback Jameis Winston, defensive ends Mario Edwards and Dante Fowler, safety P.J. Williams and athletes Marvin Bracy and Chris Casher.