ST. PETERSBURG — Five-star safety Karlos Williams hasn’t stepped foot on Florida State’s campus yet, but the nation’s No. 2 safety should fit in just fine with the Seminoles.
Williams was one of the standout stars from Wednesday’s Under Armour All-America game, recording two total tackles, one pass breakup and a 47-yard interception return for a touchdown for team Micro G (white).
But what Williams showed Wednesday that will make him a natural fit in Tallahassee was his knack for making big plays against Gators — or at least players who will soon be Gators.
Williams made a pair of plays against a tandem of UF four-star recruits in quarterback Jeff Driskel and tight end A.C. Leonard.
On team Click-Clack’s (red) third possession of the game, Auburn commit Kiehl Frazier targeted Leonard on a first-down play at Micro G’s 42-yard line. Leonard ran a 15-yard seam route and as soon as he made contact with the ball, he was laid out by Williams, who lowered his shoulder and may have led with his helmet.
Leonard was visibly shaken up on the play and exited the game, but would return.
“A.C.’s a big guy. I’m a big guy. When two big guys clash, the lowest man wins,” Williams said. “I tried to rip his head off because I know he’s going to play in Gainesville for the next couple of years, but that’s beside the point.”
As to whether or not the play was clean, the game’s officials didn’t throw a flag on the hit and Williams said he and Leonard spoke about it as they walked off the field at halftime.
“He said it was a good hit, kind of a cheap hit, but a good hit,” Williams said. “But I give him all the props. That guy is a good guy, he’s a great guy and he’s a very athletic kid.”
Williams’ other highlight against a UF commit came in the third quarter when he intercepted a Driskel pass that was tipped by wide receiver and Alabama commit Bradley Sylve five minutes into the second half.
Williams eluded five Click-Clack players as he zigzagged down the field en route to the 47-yard touchdown that put Micro G up 9-7.
“I was trying,” Williams said. “I told Driskel I was going to get him before the game.”
But according to Williams, Driskel may have gotten in a jab of his own against the FSU commit.
“He kind of laid the wood to me on a turnaround he had in the middle of the field,” Williams said. “But I hope nobody really saw that. I hope they didn’t catch that.”
And while Williams enjoyed his chance to make plays at UF recruits’ expense and hopes to do so for years to come, he also enjoyed the week’s experience of playing with many of the best high school players in the nation, saying that every player in Wednesday’s game is a five-star prospect in his eyes.
