PJ Fleck Flips Ohio LB Previously Committed to Kentucky, as Gophers Look to Surge in Recruiting Ranks

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Photo by Ron Nunnari | AIM Media Midwest

It’s another day in quarantine and another commitment for PJ Fleck, who wrangles in his latest recruit, that analysts at 247Sports.com are fawning over. A highly-rated 3-star, Devon Williams can do anything you need him to.

His film doubles up on what the analysts are writing. He plays for one of the top Ohio HS football programs and they have him dropping into all sorts of coverages, while also lining him up in a myriad of blitz packages.

Highlight tape + ratings/reviews from analysts I trust + offer list — are the three pillars of college recruiting I rely on, since I don’t follow it up-close myself. Devon hits all three. On top of the film and analysis, he holds offers from Michigan, Michigan State and Nebraska, on top of what he had committed to at Kentucky.

This is a player that not only has the physical ability to compete in the SEC but Williams also has a high football IQ. While not the biggest or fastest linebacker in the state of Ohio, Williams has no obvious weakness and he is a three-down linebacker that never needs to leave the field. Williams will play on the outside and he is equally adept at covering backs or tight ends as he is at blitzing the quarterback off the edge. As he gets bigger and stronger, Williams will be even better at stopping the run. I could see him playing special teams as a freshman.

Bill Greene – 247Sports.com Ohio Football Recruiting Analyst

Another national recruiting analyst at 247Sports.com, Allen Trieu, said “it is hard to see him not being a productive player in college also”, after speaking to how consistent of an all-around LB Williams is in high school. Devon is yet to step foot on the U of M campus.

Now that PJ Fleck and his staff are building up the 2021 commits, they are climbing up the recruiting rankings, both nationally and in the Big Ten. The Gophers class is now ranked #15 in the nation and #7 in a crowded pack among the middle of the Big Ten. 

How close are those teams in the middle of the Big Ten recruiting pack? Minnesota jumped Penn State with this commitment, after getting their seventh 3-star commit, to go with their two 4-star guys. They could jump all the way to 4th if they were to land their 3rd 4-star of the class. That would exactly match what Iowa has committed and that’s who currently holds strong at 4.

There’s plenty of time left though…

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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