An old friend could beat UGA for five-star LB

Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK

An old friend could beat Georgia for five-star LB Justin Williams

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 7/19/23

Oak Ridge (Texas) linebacker Justin Williams is a big deal as a recruit. As such, it shouldn't be all that surprising that there are plenty of big-time schools after his commitment.

Williams boasts over 30 offers, but he's narrowed his recruitment down to four blue-bloods: Alabama, Texas, Oregon and Georgia.

Ranked as the consensus No. 1 linebacker in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite, Williams is set to announce his decision on July 24. He even further narrowed his list down to Oregon and Georgia in a conversation with On3, which means that the defending back-to-back national champions are in a fight with the Nike-backed Ducks of Eugene.

BREAKING Five-Star Plus+ LB Justin Williams will announce his commitment LIVE on the On3 YouTube channel on July 24‼️

He tells @ChadSimmons_ he is down to Oregon and Georgia

Read: https://t.co/A3atoWKDod pic.twitter.com/3sJu5lF4gx
— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) July 19, 2023

As of now, there's no way of telling which way Williams will lean.“It’s pretty tough because they’re both great programs, and the coaches are like family to me,” Williams said. “I would say with Oregon, every time I go out there it’s like home. With Georgia, they’re the No. 1 program in the nation; who wouldn’t want to go play there?”

There's an interesting similarity between both programs. Head coach Kirby Smart is undoubtedly one of the best in the nation at what he does both on the sideline and on the recruiting trail, but Oregon's Dan Lanning is a Smart disciple. The Ducks hired him away after he spent three seasons leading UGA's defense as Smart's defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021.

"Coach Smart has built a great program so far, and I think he’s going to continue to do great things. And I think Coach Lanning is really on the rise. He’s a great dude and he really wants the best for his players," Williams said.

It will be interesting to see who prevails -- the teacher or the student.
Either way, one of Smart or Lanning will be getting an elite recruit. The 247Sports Composite ranks Williams as the No. 11 2024 recruit in the country.

More must-reads: