<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#000000">Ryan Williams - RB</span></span> (<span style="color:#000000">Rivals Profile</span>, <span style="color:#000000">Scout Profile</span>) Running back Manassas (VA) Stonewall Jackson Ht: 5-foot-10 Wt: 192 lbs Forty: 4.5 secs Bench max: 335 pounds Squat max: 440 pounds Vertical: 34 inches GPA: 3.3 Class: 2008 (High School) Offers: Virginia Tech, Boston College, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Clemson, Maryland, Pittsburgh
Williams Narrows His Choices <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>When it came time to start thinking about colleges he wanted to officially visit, Ryan Williams zeroed in on five: Florida, Notre Dame, Boston College, Virginia Tech and Rutgers. But as the recruiting process wore on during the fall and other factors came into play, Williams' plans changed. The Stonewall Jackson High School running back did visit Notre Dame in September, but the recruiting trip didn't click for him and so the Fighting Irish were eliminated. He never visited Florida, thinking they would have enough players back with eligibility, including Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, to still step in and ignite the running attack. Nor did he visit Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights were in Williams' final three, but coaching stability was the issue there and whether head coach Greg Schiano might leave for another job down the road. That left Virginia Tech and Boston College. Virginia Tech is a school Williams has followed for much longer, even visiting the Blacksburg campus over the years to watch games. In September of 2006, the Hokies became the second school to offer Williams. And Williams' head coach at Stonewall, Loren Johnson, played for the Hokies. Boston College, meanwhile, didn't enter the picture until the spring of Williams' junior year. The school is farther away from Williams' home in Manassas than Virginia Tech is and it's a place Williams visited for the first time last weekend. From that, it might be easy to assume there is now a clear front-runner for Williams' services. But don't be fooled. Both schools have impressed Williams. And his decision, which he plans on announcing Jan. 5 during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, won't be an easy one.</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>SAN ANTONIO - It's going to be either Boston College or Virginia Tech and Manassas (Va.) Stonewall Jackson running back Ryan Williams said he will announce his college decision at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Both programs have impressed him when he took his visits so it will not be an easy choice. "I felt comfortable (at Virginia Tech) with the guys there and the coaching staff," Williams said. "Everyone made me feel very comfortable. When I was walking through meeting the academic advisors, all the attention was on me like, 'We have to get this guy.' It seemed like they wanted to make sure, everyone I talked to at the school, they put emphasis on the fact they wanted me so bad. I feel real good about that. "(At Boston College it was) great academics, a great football program, coach (Jeff Jagodzinski) was awesome and so was coach Steve Logan, the offensive coordinator. What they do with their running backs, not just running the ball, but passing the ball, that is big for me because I don't want to be known as just a guy who runs the ball. I want to catch the ball and show people if they want to pitch me the ball, I can throw a pass."</div> Link
Williams showcasing his skills <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>SAN ANTONIO – Ryan Williams said the shake and bake is his specialty. The Manassas (Va.) Stonewall Jackson running back, who will pick either Boston College or Virginia Tech during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, displayed some impressive moves at Wednesday's skills competition and showed why he's one of the nation's elite backs. Williams used fancy footwork to dodge the grasp of LSU commit Kyle Prater. He did something totally different to elude Colorado pledge Lynn Katoa. The 5-foot-10 back, who mixes power and speed so well, slipped on the turf but popped right back up as Katoa pursued. Williams then spun away and went untouched into the end zone. His East teammates exploded onto the field to congratulate him. "That's what I do," Williams said. "It's my style of running. People might mistake the fact I can run through the tackles and do other things as well but that's the best thing I do on the field, the shake and bake thing. "It was regular to me but I guess since none of the other backs were doing it everyone was like, 'Whoa, that was good,' because before the event started everybody was saying, 'Sam McGuffie is going to do this or Darrell Scott is going to do this.' I'm not knocking them. They're great backs. I just went out there and did what I do best. I don't brag or boast, but I did a decent job in that event." Williams, rated as the third-best running back nationally by Rivals.com, looks like he's having a ball so far this week. He and Ohio State commit Lamaar Thomas are the only two getting carries now that Notre Dame pledge Jonas Gray is sidelined with an ankle injury. Williams is in his element, something that has not occurred often in his high school career. In his freshman season, he had to split time with former Stonewall Jackson standout Chris Garrett, who plays at Ohio University. As a sophomore, Williams was injured and only played in four games. His junior season was his best as he rushed for 1,572 yards and 21 touchdowns on 167 carries. He was never 100 percent as a senior since he played with high and low ankle sprains. Williams has finally gotten healthy and he's showing what he can do. "With all that happened, I'm still here," Williams said. "Even if I'm under-appreciated and I'm feeling like that, that just goes with what goes on in my career. It motivates me to showcase what I'm capable of doing. This is it right here and in pads it's a different story. I'm able to run through people and there are things I can do with my running style because I'm not just about shaking people. I love contact, too."</div>
