To add to Owen’s article, Master Williams lives in California, which has delayed high school football season until first half 2021, if at all. So there’s no junior year tape or stats. No camps. No interviews.
During non-Covid times, recruiting high school sophomores and juniors to forecast how they’ll play two to five years in the future is a bit of a dark art. Being an observer of recruiting is even harder since we only glimpse a fraction of their body of work. Being an observer of recruiting during a Covid year is a farce.
Likewise, I would be wary of star ratings now because the rating agencies likewise have nothing to go on. They’ll go off of which programs were competitive last year, sophomore year material, and which players were early bloomers.
Narbonne HS is – or was - a juggernaut in the very competitive Marine League. However, they had to vacate their 2018 title and their entire undefeated 2019 season because rules violations including allegations of ineligible players, residency shenanigans, and administration that skirted the rules. Narbonne was banned, hence why Damonic’s transfer makes sense.
With that, let’s look at Damonic’s tape with the caveat that sophomore tape – even on a future superstar – looks rough. First, Damonic was built like a fireplug prototype NG, but has since self-declared that he gained another 2 inches and 18 pounds. A P5 d-lineman should be destroying people on high school highlight tapes and he does. Despite the dearth of tape, Damonic has an array of moves, which shows that he is coachable. He gets good results on those moves due to his early-bloomer size and strength, but is understandably raw in technique. He has a good motor and beastly strength for a sophomore, but he was understandably not quick off the line, slow in pursuit, needs improved flexibility, and the transformation of a good S&C program to succeed at the next level. But he passes the eyeball test and seems like a very high quality recruit. He’s the critical guy you plug in the middle -- a Stanley McKenzie type – to absorb one to two blockers and lets the other guys clean up. Not a glory position, but so so so critical in the 3-4.
A true NG in build and attitude, just what the new year needed!! His self declared measurements, if true, are very impressive for that position. Browning continues to bring them in for the DL.
Damonic Williams
6’3” 318 lbs (self-declared)
To add to Owen’s article, Master Williams lives in California, which has delayed high school football season until first half 2021, if at all. So there’s no junior year tape or stats. No camps. No interviews.
During non-Covid times, recruiting high school sophomores and juniors to forecast how they’ll play two to five years in the future is a bit of a dark art. Being an observer of recruiting is even harder since we only glimpse a fraction of their body of work. Being an observer of recruiting during a Covid year is a farce.
Likewise, I would be wary of star ratings now because the rating agencies likewise have nothing to go on. They’ll go off of which programs were competitive last year, sophomore year material, and which players were early bloomers.
Narbonne HS is – or was - a juggernaut in the very competitive Marine League. However, they had to vacate their 2018 title and their entire undefeated 2019 season because rules violations including allegations of ineligible players, residency shenanigans, and administration that skirted the rules. Narbonne was banned, hence why Damonic’s transfer makes sense.
With that, let’s look at Damonic’s tape with the caveat that sophomore tape – even on a future superstar – looks rough. First, Damonic was built like a fireplug prototype NG, but has since self-declared that he gained another 2 inches and 18 pounds. A P5 d-lineman should be destroying people on high school highlight tapes and he does. Despite the dearth of tape, Damonic has an array of moves, which shows that he is coachable. He gets good results on those moves due to his early-bloomer size and strength, but is understandably raw in technique. He has a good motor and beastly strength for a sophomore, but he was understandably not quick off the line, slow in pursuit, needs improved flexibility, and the transformation of a good S&C program to succeed at the next level. But he passes the eyeball test and seems like a very high quality recruit. He’s the critical guy you plug in the middle -- a Stanley McKenzie type – to absorb one to two blockers and lets the other guys clean up. Not a glory position, but so so so critical in the 3-4.
So.... how is this kid 15?
Eight comments so far, and none complaining about the lack of 5 stars in this class so far? j/k.. Welcome to Cal!
I won’t pretend to be able to evaluate talent, but judging by who else made offers - USC, UW, Michigan - this looks like really good news.
A true NG in build and attitude, just what the new year needed!! His self declared measurements, if true, are very impressive for that position. Browning continues to bring them in for the DL.
On a dark day when I needed some good news, this is good news!!! Welcome to Cal, young man!
Where is he listed as 4*?
A 4* recruit to start off 2022. Tremendous!