http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/02/st_pauls_lb_tre_williams_enjoy.htmlSt. Paul's LB Tre Williams enjoys Auburn visit, wants to see Tigers on field
By Mike Herndon | mherndon@al.com
on February 26, 2013 at 4:34 PM, updated February 26, 2013 at 4:47 PM
Tre Williams was one of several Mobile-area 2014 prospects at Auburn's junior day last weekend. (Mike Kittrell/mkittrell@al.com)
Tre Williams enjoyed his visit to Auburn last weekend. He talked with Gus Malzahn and Ellis Johnson. He got an idea where he'd fit in within Johnson's defensive scheme should he decided to sign with the Tigers next February. He learned about academic programs at Auburn that pertain to his desired major - sports medicine.
But one thing he didn't learn will also play a role in whether Williams, a four-star linebacker from St. Paul's in Mobile and one of the top 2014 prospects in the state, will ultimately choose Auburn over a host of other offers.
"Of course," he said Monday, "we'll have to see how Auburn plays this year."
There isn't much further explanation needed. The Tigers were 3-9 last year and 0-8 in the SEC, leading to the ouster of Gene Chizik just two years after a national championship. Williams - no doubt like many other prospects in the class of 2014 - needs to see whether Malzahn, Johnson and the new Tigers staff can get the Tigers headed back in the right direction this fall.
Williams was already well familiar with another new Auburn coach, former Florida State assistant Dameyune Craig - "he's always been a great recruiter to me," Williams said - and said his visits with Malzahn, Johnson and other Tiger coaches last weekend "went great."
He said he's also comfortable with where he'd fit in Johnson's 4-2-5 defensive scheme, which demands versatile, three-down linebackers. "He said we get to move around a lot, change the defense a lot," Williams said.
Williams also has offers from Florida, Florida State, LSU, South Carolina, Clemson and USC, and has plans to visit Florida in the next few weeks, but he said Alabama and Auburn are "recruiting me the hardest." In comparing the two in-state schools, he said there are differences, but none that push one ahead of the other just yet.
"All of it's good, but they're different," he said. "Auburn has more moving around, fast people, and Alabama has more big people that can plug the run. Both schemes I think are pretty good for me and I'd play in either one."
Auburn this week offered Williams' teammate, St. Paul's offensive lineman Josh Casher. Williams said "it would be nice" to play in college with Casher, with whom he collides quite frequently in practice.
"He's a great offensive lineman," Williams said of Casher. "It's really hard practicing against him. He makes me better. Sometimes the coaches will be like: 'Go get Tre.' And I'll be like, 'Aw, man.'"
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