2016 DE Justice Williams earns first offer at SMSB Camp

MACOMB, Mich. - Every year, the Sound Mind Sound Body Camp allows a number of high school football players the opportunity to earn their first scholarship offer, by learning from, and performing in front of college coaches. Belleville (Mich.) junior defensive end, Justice Williams, was that fortunate young man today, earning offer No.1 from the Toledo Rockets.

There couldn't have been a camper happier than Williams on the final day of the two-day event at Dakota High School.

"Today has a been a pretty great day," said a smiling Williams. "I just got offered by Toledo, so I'm feeling pretty good. All of my hard work paid off, and I'm speechless.

"I talked to Coach Sheed (Eli Rasheed) and Coach McDonald, and they just they were going to offer me. They liked what they saw, and I'm excited right now."

Excited wasn't quite Williams' mood the morning of the camp, as a player who entered the day's events, looking for exposure, and hoping to have a good showing. His mood would change by the time 3:30 p.m., rolled around.

"I was a little nervous coming here," Williams said. "But I came here, and did what I had to do to earn an offer. I'm speechless."

Offering Williams first could pay dividends for Toledo down the road if they are somehow able to land him. He's tall (6-4), but a bit slim at 205-pounds, with a nice frame to add some more pounds by the time his senior year ends. His interest in the Rockets right now is mutual.

"They are a great school," Williams said of Toledo. "They are always winning, and I am going back down there on Monday to see what the program is like."

Toledo wasn't the only school paying attention to Williams at the camp. Oregon, and a few MAC and Big Ten schools talked to Williams there, impressed by his performance there, and looking to put their bid in on his recruitment. For players like Williams, who haven't seen their recruitment pick up yet, the camp means everything to them, even beyond the football field.

"It was a good experience being here," Williams said. "They teach you more than just about football. They teach you about life and death, and it gets you ready for the next level."

Overall, Williams said he was satisfied with his performance at the camp, although he didn't get to go up against some of the players he would have liked to. Two players he did mention, were Detroit Cass Tech offensive linemen, Michigan commit Michael Onwenu, and Ostell Martin. Why them? The three were teammates together at Cass Tech last season, before Williams made the move to Belleville. The move obviously wasn't easy at first, but he has begun to settle in now, playing for his former defensive coordinator at Cass Tech, Jermain Crowell, at Belleville.

"The move was hard, you know, since I'm from Detroit," he said. "So moving all the way out to Belleville, and leaving my girl was difficult, but now, it was a great move, and things will work out for the better.

"I'm excited to play for Coach Crowell. He brings a lot to the table, he loves what he does, and he breathes, eats and sleeps football. That's him through and through. We want a state championship this year at Belleville."