ELLENWOOD, Ga. — Bryson Allen-Williams has some thinking to do.
The four-star linebacker at Cedar Grove High School just outside of Atlanta verbally committed in April to play football for South Carolina and remains attached to that bond, but the home state Georgia Bulldogs have made his decision tougher in the last two days.
“For me, I really can’t judge it in percentage. I just know that as of right now most likely I am going to sign with South Carolina,” he said. “I won’t say 100 percent because I am still thinking, so probably about 95 percent.”
Allen-Williams made an official recruiting visit to Georgia’s campus this weekend and watched Sunday evening’s Super Bowl at the home of Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt along with new Georgia defensive assistant coaches Jeremy Pruitt and Tracy Rocker.
“They were on me the whole time,” Allen-Williams said.
Allen-Williams, who has seen his recruiting stock rise since a standout performance at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January, talked to South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier by phone on his way to Richt’s house and spoke to Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward by phone on his way home Sunday night and again Monday morning before going to school, he said.
“They are keeping a close eye on me,” Allen-Williams said. “Coach Ward and Coach Spurrier, both of them have been constantly calling me, keeping my faith toward South Carolina. It’s a hard decision, so many great schools coming at you. South Carolina is an amazing school, but Bama and Georgia they are really putting a lot in my head. Between today and tomorrow, I have a lot of thinking to do.”
Wednesday is National Signing Day, the first day high school players are allowed to sign letters of intent to play college football. No player has to sign on the first day of the signing period, but Allen-Williams is committed to announcing his decision at a news conference at the school at 9 a.m. Wednesday, he said.
“Right now, I feel comfortable at South Carolina,” he said. “I am going to do some thinking and some praying tonight. On Tuesday, when I wake up, whatever decision I have, it will be made.
“It’s just hard. This is a decision that will affect the rest of my life.”
Allen-Williams is ranked the No. 8 outside linebacker in the country in composite ratings compiled by 247Sports. Georgia and Alabama have stayed in touch with Allen-Williams since his April commitment to South Carolina and turned up the heat after his appearance in the U.S. Army game, Cedar Grove coach Jimmy Smith said.
“I think South Carolina is where he’s going to go,” Smith said.
Allen-Williams is feeling the pressure, though, Smith said.
“I try to tell the kids the pressure is not on them, that it’s on the school’s to get them to come there, but it doesn’t work,” Smith said. “A lot of times signing day puts a lot of pressure on them. I am trying to get (his players) to be patient, but I know Bryson is ready for it to be over with.”
The four-star linebacker at Cedar Grove High School just outside of Atlanta verbally committed in April to play football for South Carolina and remains attached to that bond, but the home state Georgia Bulldogs have made his decision tougher in the last two days.
“For me, I really can’t judge it in percentage. I just know that as of right now most likely I am going to sign with South Carolina,” he said. “I won’t say 100 percent because I am still thinking, so probably about 95 percent.”
Allen-Williams made an official recruiting visit to Georgia’s campus this weekend and watched Sunday evening’s Super Bowl at the home of Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt along with new Georgia defensive assistant coaches Jeremy Pruitt and Tracy Rocker.
“They were on me the whole time,” Allen-Williams said.
Allen-Williams, who has seen his recruiting stock rise since a standout performance at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January, talked to South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier by phone on his way to Richt’s house and spoke to Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward by phone on his way home Sunday night and again Monday morning before going to school, he said.
“They are keeping a close eye on me,” Allen-Williams said. “Coach Ward and Coach Spurrier, both of them have been constantly calling me, keeping my faith toward South Carolina. It’s a hard decision, so many great schools coming at you. South Carolina is an amazing school, but Bama and Georgia they are really putting a lot in my head. Between today and tomorrow, I have a lot of thinking to do.”
Wednesday is National Signing Day, the first day high school players are allowed to sign letters of intent to play college football. No player has to sign on the first day of the signing period, but Allen-Williams is committed to announcing his decision at a news conference at the school at 9 a.m. Wednesday, he said.
“Right now, I feel comfortable at South Carolina,” he said. “I am going to do some thinking and some praying tonight. On Tuesday, when I wake up, whatever decision I have, it will be made.
“It’s just hard. This is a decision that will affect the rest of my life.”
Allen-Williams is ranked the No. 8 outside linebacker in the country in composite ratings compiled by 247Sports. Georgia and Alabama have stayed in touch with Allen-Williams since his April commitment to South Carolina and turned up the heat after his appearance in the U.S. Army game, Cedar Grove coach Jimmy Smith said.
“I think South Carolina is where he’s going to go,” Smith said.
Allen-Williams is feeling the pressure, though, Smith said.
“I try to tell the kids the pressure is not on them, that it’s on the school’s to get them to come there, but it doesn’t work,” Smith said. “A lot of times signing day puts a lot of pressure on them. I am trying to get (his players) to be patient, but I know Bryson is ready for it to be over with.”
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