Illinois Football: Illini target Jevon Williams looking at visit this summer

While the Illinois football team has seen an influx in four-star recruits coming into the program, not all talent comes with stars attached.

Tymir Oliver and Kenyon Jackson are both big-time contributors at defensive tackle for the Illini. They came from the class of 2016 and were both two-star recruits. Jake Hansen was also in that class and he has been a star for the program the last couple of seasons at linebacker. He was only a two-star as well.

You can go back even further and find lower rated recruits who exceeded expectations. Reggie Corbin was a two-star and is one of the best running backs we have seen in a long time. Tre Watson was a two-star and he was a great linebacker for the Illini. Justin Hardee was a two-star and he’s a mainstay in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints. It doesn’t necessarily matter how many stars you have. It matters more what you have inside.

Illinois started recently targeting a player who doesn’t have a star next to his name. Jevon Williams is a 5-foot-7.5, 134-pound wide receiver from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida. This kid doesn’t have the stars, doesn’t have the notoriety and he didn’t have a scholarship from a power-five program.

But Illinois offered him anyways.

Why would the Illini offer a kid who isn’t on the recruiting map? Why would they go after someone no other power-five conference program is pursuing? Well, have you looked at what this kid can do on the football field? He is a certified playmaker.

The Writing Illini had a chance to catch up with Williams on his recruitment and his most recent offer from Illinois. We wanted to know what it meant to him to get that coveted power-five offer.

“It means a lot,” said Williams, “I feel blessed and hope this is the school I attend within the next year.”

Ever since Illinois plucked Keynodo Hudson from Florida Atlantic to be the cornerbacks coach, the Illini have hit the state of Florida hard when it comes to recruiting. Coach Hudson has been on the ground working and it shows with so much recruiting attention coming from the Sunshine State.

Coach Hudson is the main recruiter for Williams as well. He is the coach that Williams spoke to about the scholarship offer the Illini extended. But what would Williams bring to the Illini? What should we expect from him if he does pick the Orange and Blue?

“I feel as if I bring a lot of speed, heart and life every time I touch the field. I am a very hard-working individual and I won’t take no for an answer,” said Williams.

Since there isn’t a lot out there about Williams and his game, I wanted to see what he thought his best attributes were and what he still needs to work on.

“My best skills are my hands and feet. I feel as if I can be used at any position on the field regardless of my size,” said Williams, “I feel as if I need to work on everything, bettering each and every aspect of my game is a major key to my success. Everything about my game can be improved.”

Williams seems like a hard-working recruit who wants to do whatever it takes to play football. That is the type of player I want for the Illini. He isn’t the most talented on paper, but he has what it takes on the inside to be great. So, is there a visit to Champaign coming in the future?

“I would love to take a trip this summer, very soon,” said Williams, “A commitment could happen if I have the opportunity and ability to. I would be more than happy to.”

Illinois seems to be in line to pick up another recruit for the class of 2020. It seems like it is only a matter of time. Hopefully, Coach Hudson and the Illini coaching staff can close Williams and add him to an already great class.