By WILLIAM WEATHERS
wweathers@theadvocate.com
Advocate sportswriter
The junior college signatures have been plentiful and commitments bountiful.
But the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s 2003 recruiting class received its biggest addition to date with a pledge from quarterback Devin Williams of Sam Houston High in Arlington, Texas.
Williams, a 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, is rated among the nation’s top 11 dual-threat (run and throw) quarterbacks by Rivals.com.
“He’s probably one of the biggest recruits they’ve gotten,” Sam Houston coach Kenny Perry said. “But they really did a good of recruiting him. When this thing started, they were with him from the start and that meant a lot to him.”
Williams is rated the No. 4 quarterback in Texas by the Houston Chronicle. The Dallas Morning News lists Williams as its No. 18 prospect on its Area Top 100 list and No. 50 among the state’s Top 100.
Williams, who projects to be an academic qualifier, selected UL over Kansas State and Utah. He also received interest from Michigan State, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
“Oklahoma offered him as a wide receiver,” Perry said. “He liked (UL) coach (Rickey) Bustle — the fact that he coached (Atlanta Falcons’ QB) Michael Vick in college weighed on him pretty heavy.”
Williams, one of 70 players selected to play in today’s 2nd Annual Coca-Cola High All-Star game in Grand Prairie, was a three-year starter for Sam Houston.
He was voted the District 6-5A most valuable player on offense after throwing for more than 1,500 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushing for an additional 750 yards and 12 scores as a junior.
Perry said Williams passed for close to 2,000 yards and rushed for more than 850 last season, leading Sam Houston to a 6-6 record and the second round of the state playoffs.
UL HOSTING 10: With current commitments Zach Leger of Bishop Sullivan and Mark Risher of St. Thomas More set to visit, UL will host approximately 10 prospects this weekend.
Acadiana-Scott running back Alley Broussard, an LSU commitment who is not yet academically qualified, will visit this weekend his mother Calesia Broussard said. He made an official visit to Louisiana Tech two weeks ago.