but what about the bike?
An Interview With Kevin Williams
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Kevin Williams is a junior defensive tackle from Springfield High School, in Ohio. Williams is one of the best prospects in Ohio’s 2011 class, and is looking to end his recruitment early. I caught up with Kevin, and his coach, and here’s what they had to say.
COACH VINCE MARROW: As a sophomore, he was the best defensive player for this team. I was thinking about taking a job at Syracuse, and I ended up coming here to Springfield. Kevin’s parents transferred him here to play for me, which was exciting.
In high school, it's either the athletes are going to have to pick up weights, or put on weight. Kevin is 6-foot-2, 275 pounds, and only 16 years old. He's ready for D1, and hasn't even hit his full potential. I think he’ll probably grow one or two more inches. He honestly could probably start at Toledo this year, as a junior. His speed, strength, and explosiveness are very good.
I've coached some NFL, and played in the NFL for 9 years. I played for Buffalo, the Bears, Carolina, and the 49ers. I really think he's the best defensive tackle in the state of Ohio. He had 17 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and 151 total tackles this year, as a junior.
[ed: to Kevin now.]
TOM: Who do you currently have offers from?
KEVIN: I have offers from Boston College, Michigan, Nebraska, Bowling Green, and Indiana so far.
TOM: Who are you hearing from, and expect offers from?
KEVIN: I’m expecting one from Florida State, too.
TOM: Were you a fan of any team growing up?
KEVIN: I’m a big fan of Michigan, Notre Dame, and Florida. I went to a Michigan basketball game when I was younger. We got to go out on the field and play around in the Big House. It was so overwhelming; I’ll never forget that.
TOM: Have you made it up to Michigan for a visit, or camp? When will you be up there?
KEVIN: No, not yet. I’m going on the 20th to their junior day.
TOM: What are your strengths, and what are you trying to work on?
KEVIN: My explosiveness off the ball is one of my biggest strengths. I’d like to work on my hands a little bit, and getting my handwork down.
TOM: How has it helped you having a coach like Coach Marrow, being an NFL guy?
KEVIN: Yes, it’s helped a lot. We go through drills every day. When I was at Central, I was basically just potential. He’s helped me bring that potential out, and turned it into ability. He gives me the whole ins and outs of the recruiting process. He’s been there, and gone through it, so he’s helped me a lot. His son went through it last year, and is at Alabama now, so he knows what to do.
TOM: Is there a certain scheme that you would like to play in, in college, or do you think you’re versatile enough to play anywhere?
KEVIN: I think I can play in any scheme. I can play interior, or I can bump out and play defensive end. That won’t really matter to me.
TOM: How do you see your recruitment panning out? What is the timeline for you?
KEVIN: I plan on making a decision by spring, definitely before summer. I plan on graduating early, so I want to make sure I just have the decision out of the way.
TOM: Do you think distance will play a factor in your decision?
KEVIN: It really won’t play a factor. I have family in Florida, around here, so distance won’t matter too much. I would like to experience new things. Michigan is close, though, so that would be nice to have my family be able to come see me play.
TOM: How are you going to make your decision. What are the biggest factors that will play into your decision?
KEVIN: Just where ever I feel comfortable. I’m looking for the place that gives me the feeling of comfort. I want to have that home away from home.
TOM: What about Michigan stands out to you?
KEVIN: I love their tradition. Like I said, when I went to that basketball game when I was younger, it was just a crazy feeling. To know that much history is there, it’s overwhelming.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:24 PM | 
re: williams
re: williams
February 9th, 2010 at 12:47 PM |
Yeah, hopefully we gain some ground on Junior Day
Yeah, hopefully we gain some ground on Junior Day
This kid sounds like he'd be a good addition to our growing pool of D-Line talent.
Hide ya kids, hide ya wife.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:33 PM |
Those are some seriously large arms he's got
Those are some seriously large arms he's got
Odd that he doesn't have an OSU offer yet.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:58 PM |
They want...
They want...
They want him to come to their junior day to get his offer. He told me that might be too late, though. He's not interested in waiting out the process.
Tom VanHaaren I TomVH on Twitter I U Recruit I Email
February 9th, 2010 at 1:01 PM |
Too late?
Too late?
High five!
O-H-I-O: Because the "YMCA" wasn't gay enough.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:09 PM |
OSU junior day
OSU junior day
When is their junior day?
February 9th, 2010 at 1:41 PM |
Nebraska
Nebraska
Tom,
I was reading a thread on the Rivals national recruiting board about Williams and the Nebraska fans seemed quite confident. Did the subject of Nebraska come up at all in your discussions with Kevin or his coach?
Thanks.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:56 PM |
He made...
He made...
He made it seem like each school would get a fair shot. It sounded like Michigan and Nebraska stuck out the most, though.
He's going to follow up with me after junior day, and he'll probably have a better feel for each school after that. Getting them on campus usually helps the argument for Michigan, so we'll see.
Tom VanHaaren I TomVH on Twitter I U Recruit I Email
February 10th, 2010 at 3:09 PM |
I believe the Nebraska
I believe the Nebraska
I believe the Nebraska connection is coming from Marrow. Marrow went to Cardinal Mooney HS in Youngstown (see Bo Pellini, the entire Stoops clan, Mike Zordich, Taylor Hill, Ray Viopal, etc..)
February 9th, 2010 at 12:34 PM |
Minor?
Minor?
If he's 1 of the top kids in a Ohio wouldn't that be a "major"
February 9th, 2010 at 12:48 PM |
Not trying
Not trying
to be a jerk, but don't think this guy goes to Springfield High School in Ohio. I'm from there and that's not the name of the coach and that's not the way the jersey looks. Plus, Trey Depriest goes to Springfield HS in Ohio and so I would think he'd be the top defensive player on the team? I would also think the fact that they were teammates would be mentioned in the interview?
"Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football" -- John Heisman
February 9th, 2010 at 12:53 PM |
You can see on his jersey
You can see on his jersey
You can see on his jersey where it says "Springfield"...
O-H-I-O: Because the "YMCA" wasn't gay enough.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:57 PM |
There can be more than one
There can be more than one
There can be more than one Springfield High School in a state. Williams is from Holland, OH, which is near Toledo. DePriest is from Springfield, OH.
February 9th, 2010 at 6:17 PM |
The Springfield Isotopes, right?
The Springfield Isotopes, right?
As long as it's not Shelbyville. They tried to steal Springfield's lemon tree, those jerks.
February 9th, 2010 at 12:57 PM |
Williams is from Holland,
Williams is from Holland,
Williams is from Holland, Ohio and Springfield high school while Depriest is from Springfield, Ohio and Springfield high school. It's just a coincidence that both schools have the same name.
Are you a park ranger at Yellowstone? Say hi to Yogi Bear for me.
There's more than 1 reason to be afraid of me. If you want to find out make the trip down here some time, I'll show you if you like. - the_big_house 500th
February 9th, 2010 at 12:58 PM |
Toledo Springfield Hight School
Toledo Springfield Hight School
Its not obvious from the interview, but he plays for Springfield High School in Toledo, not in the city of Springfield (north of Dayton).
February 9th, 2010 at 12:48 PM |
The kid seems to have a good
The kid seems to have a good
The kid seems to have a good head on his shoulders. Thanks for the interview Tom!
February 9th, 2010 at 12:52 PM |
That kid
That kid
Is a haus... Looks like he would be a great pick-up.
David Cone is my homeboy...
February 9th, 2010 at 1:00 PM |
Different Springfield
Different Springfield
This is Springfield HS in Holland, Ohio.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/recruit-search-resu...
February 9th, 2010 at 1:19 PM |
No offense to Kevin, I hope
No offense to Kevin, I hope
No offense to Kevin, I hope he goes Blue; however, Coach Vince Marrow sounds like quite the
February 9th, 2010 at 1:23 PM |
What?
What?
What are you basing this statement on? Nothing in what's posted here seems particularly douchey to me.
And agreed; locking this kid down early would be great.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:24 PM |
Maybe I'm an idiot
Maybe I'm an idiot
But I honestly don't see it.. I don't see what you saw that he said that led you to believe that he's a douchebag..
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
February 9th, 2010 at 1:31 PM |
He was....
He was....
He was actually quite the opposite. The snippet of the conversation that you're reading makes it seem like he was talking about himself a lot, but he wasn't.
He was just saying that about the NFL to prove the point that he's been around a lot of good players. I was actually the one who asked him what teams he played for, because I was curious.
The way he was talking wasn't about promoting himself, or letting everyone know where he's been. It was more to validate Kevin, and how good he is.
He was a really nice guy.
Tom VanHaaren I TomVH on Twitter I U Recruit I Email
February 10th, 2010 at 1:54 AM |
The talking about himself was
The talking about himself was
The talking about himself was all that I was referring to. This may be attributed to editing the interview, but leading off with "Well I could have been in college, but I chose to come here" just gave off the "I got into Michigan, but chose to go to State" vibe to me that you hear from every little brother with a Napoleon complex.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:34 PM |
Yes sir
Yes sir
by douchebag I guess you mean he's proud to be a former NFL player and would like to impart his knowledge on a player he is mentoring. Yeah, what a douche.
T
February 9th, 2010 at 1:38 PM |
Yeah what a douchebag
Yeah what a douchebag
saying that his player has tons of potential and pointing out that he's been around a lot of great players. How dare he compare a junior in high school to NFL players. That asshole!
"A house divided against itself cannot stand"
February 9th, 2010 at 1:46 PM |
You really
You really
don't see the relevance of his coach's NFL experience when it comes to asking for a scouting report from said coach?
...the Canadians make up for it with their emotion and classic ice-dancing skill.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:46 PM |
OL/DL
OL/DL
Can never have to many. I can't wait to have the a "reloading" problem again and not a "rebuilding" problem.
I'll take him, Depriest and Thomas, plus the two CB's we have onboard now. Well since I'm dreaming lets hope we can have them all in the fold by September.
Deserve's got nothin' to do with it.
February 9th, 2010 at 1:50 PM |
Oddly enough, I actually went
Oddly enough, I actually went
Oddly enough, I actually went to the first game of Springfield's season last year. They were playing Oak Harbor, and a friend of mine is from there, so we drove down to Holland to watch the game. Springfield looked better in the first half, but OH ended up winning 14-0.
That also happened to be the first game in Springfield's new football stadium. The one thing that stood out to me was the functioning play clocks in each end zone -- Michigan high schools don't typically have play clocks installed because they can't use them anyway. Obviously, Ohio doesn't have that rule, and now I wish Michigan didn't.
Sportscenter.com raves: Sgt. Wolverine, "Michigan's biggest fan"!
February 9th, 2010 at 2:02 PM |
Syracuse Job?
Syracuse Job?
Tom was that Syracuse job going to be coaching under GERG before he got fired and thus ended up not getting the position? That would be a pretty good in if true.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:16 PM |
I didn't...
I didn't...
I didn't ask him, but this was his first year coaching at Springfield (I believe), so it's a possibility.
Tom VanHaaren I TomVH on Twitter I U Recruit I Email
February 10th, 2010 at 1:56 PM |
Marrow was a U Toledo assistant
Marrow was a U Toledo assistant
during the 2008 season. After head coach Tom Amstutz resigned, the new coach did not retain Marrow. Marrow then accepted the HC position at Holland Springfield HS (suburban Toledo). 2009 was his first year there. Williams was a teammate of Marrow's son at Toledo Central Catholic and transferred to Holland Springfield.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:19 PM |
Well, considering Toledo beat
Well, considering Toledo beat
Well, considering Toledo beat us last time we played, if he can start there right now I'll take him! Can't wait to see if we get him.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:24 PM |
It would be excellent to get
It would be excellent to get
It would be excellent to get an early commit from him. Locking down a great DT early in the 2011 process would make me breathe a huge sigh of relief.
We really need to work some magic on Junior day. Hopefully we can come out of it with an OL commit.
February 9th, 2010 at 2:23 PM |
Defensive stud who wants to
Defensive stud who wants to
Defensive stud who wants to enroll early? Yes please!
I know from experience dude. If you know what I mean.
February 9th, 2010 at 3:07 PM |
It would be great to
It would be great to
have some competition and depth on that D-line. It could be a real strength in a few years if Williams joins the crew.
“I am going to treat you all the same. Like Dogs.” - Bo Schembechler
February 9th, 2010 at 4:18 PM |
JUNIOR DAYS?!
JUNIOR DAYS?!
All the ELITE coaches know to comb the pre-schools and Elementary bus stops for recruits nowadays.
In Southern California (just for example) If you haven't got a player locked down by the 4th grade your behind the curve.
Step it up Rich Rod!
Love & Hate are horns on the same goat.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:53 PM |
Kevin looks like a young Reggie White-
Kevin looks like a young Reggie White-
would love to see those arms sticking out of a Michigan Football jersey. Can't imagine what this player would look like post Barwis.
February 9th, 2010 at 5:09 PM |
Kevin Williams
Kevin Williams
It would be awesome if we could get him, we can always take more players with his sort of ability.
February 9th, 2010 at 7:17 PM |
He'll be the best player out of that school since...
He'll be the best player out of that school since...
Rick Upchurch.
February 10th, 2010 at 1:53 PM |
Eric Page
Eric Page
was a freshman ALl-American and All-MAC this year for Toledo. I'd keep an eye on him.
February 11th, 2010 at 4:12 PM |
Tom; I caught up with this
Tom; I caught up with this
Tom; I caught up with this tread a little late, and I know you mentioned in your post that Williams is considered one of the best prospects in OH for the 2011 class, but with that being said do you put him up there with the likes of...or should I say "hype" of a Depriest and/or Tanner per say? Basically is he another T. Talbott or is he a legit top 5-10 Ohio prospect? Also is Michigan looking @ him for NT or more so a 3-Tech D-lineman? All in all I know he's still developing, but I guess I'm a bit skeptical of his development as Springfield is far from being a powerhouse program. Yes it plays in a D2 conference, but one without much notoriety outside the existence of Sylvania Southview the past decade, further reinforced by the program finishing a disappointing 3-7 this past year. All in all I know one player doesn’t make the season for his team, and we know all to well how good coaches can have some tough years early on, but just questioning how much “hype” Williams warrants.
February 12th, 2010 at 9:44 PM |
Video Sneak Preview
Video Sneak Preview
February 24th, 2010 at 9:14 PM |
Did a little research
Did a little research
Did a little research, this kid transfers from Toledo Central Catholic to Springfield. He said in the interview at his last school he was just potential at his old school and now his potential is whatever. WOW, Springfield 3-7, Toledo Central Catholic 9-3 this past year.
Sounds like a good transfer?
This coach said he had an opportunity to go to Syracuse, instead he goes to a high school that looks like it struggles every year. Sounds like a good move on the coaches part?
Watched the kids film that was posted, what was so great?
Are we not Michigan, it seems like we offer every other kid, getting a Michigan offer should be a honor.
Thanks Rich
Saw this kid play last year. A pheonomenal athlete, and certain to be among the top players in the state. Would love to get him early...it would be a minor coup.
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