Lee's Summit West RB Ryan Williams commits to Missouri
http://www.columbiatribune.com/blogs...a4bcf6878.html
By DAVID MORRISON
Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Ryan Williams, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound running back from Lee's Summit West, committed to Missouri's Class of 2015 during the Tigers' Junior Day on Saturday, his high-school coach Royce Boehm said.
PowerMizzou.com lists Williams and Chase Abbington, an athlete from Fort Zumwalt South who signed with Missouri in 2013 but had to go through Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College first, as the Tigers' two commits for 2015.
Williams is a 3-star recruit according to 247Sports.com, ESPN.com, Rivals.com and Scout.com. He is the No. 37 running back and the No. 7 prospect from Missouri in the Class of 2015, according to 247Sports.
Boehm, father of Missouri center Evan Boehm, said Williams ran for 1,100 yards this past season and recently posted a 4.5-second 40-yard dash at a prospect showcase.
Williams has offers from Northern Illinois and Northern Iowa, Boehm said, but larger schools are starting to show more interest.
Williams would be the fourth Lee's Summit West player to sign with Missouri in the past four years, after Evan Boehm (2012), cornerback Logan Cheadle and offensive lineman Kevin Pendleton (both 2014).
And read on for Royce Boehm's comments about Missouri's newest commitment:
What kind of back is Williams?
"Missouri is getting the type of running back Missouri produces. The way I like to say it is the young man likes to break ankles. He's got breakaway speed. And once he gets down there and gets on the training table and gets to" head strength and conditioning coach Pat "Ivey and his staff, Ryan is going to get bigger, faster, stronger.
"He had 1,110 yards rushing this year and a lot of people will go, 'That's not good.' Well, b.s. That's pretty good when we have a kid running for 1,100 yards, then our number two back" Demarcus Edwards "is running 850 yards, then our number three running back" Andrew Palmer "is running 750 yards. Then we've got two Wildcats -- with Brenner Clemons, who's down there today at Missouri -- and Monte Harrison who both ran for 500 yards.
"You know what? Next year, he's going to tote the football. Most of those guys aren't going to be around. It's just going to be him and Brenner."
What kind of runner is he?
"Just elusive. So elusive, so slick. It's like he puts his hand on the back of one of our linemen and, next thing you know, he makes a break and he's gone. Then, on a dime, he's cutting back to his left and breaking ankles."
What are some of his measurables?
"Right now he's at 5-10, 175 pounds. He was invited to the All-American combine in San Antonio, where he posted a 4.5 40."
What other schools were in the mix for him?
"At the time it was Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa and he would ask me, 'Why am I not getting offers from these other schools?' I looked at him and said, 'You know why? A lot of these schools look at stats, and they're looking at the wrong thing.' I am a true believer about that.
"I had Kansas come in last Friday, before the snow hit. They were looking at Brenner Clemons and I looked over at" running backs coach "Reggie" Mitchell "and said, 'Why haven't you guys offered Ryan Williams?' And he said, 'Who?' I put his highlight tape on and he goes, 'Oh my Lord. How did we miss this guy?' I said, 'You know what? You're getting real close to truly missing him because I'm hearing rumors from the kid that he's ready to commit.' Then last Saturday" Williams "calls me and tells me he's going to commit today.
"Now, some of these schools are going to hear he's committed and -- honestly, this is the crap I hear -- 'Oh, we were going to offer you.' I told him, 'You're going to get some offers as soon as you commit. They're going to try and ruffle your feathers.'"
First your son, Evan, then Cheadle and Pendleton. How comfortable are LSW prospects in going to Missouri?
Quarterbacks coach Andy "Hill texted me today and he said, 'The pipeline continues.' That right there kind of tells you how our kids feel about the University of Missouri.
"But I tell you what, you ask Kevin Pendleton, you ask Logan, you can ask Evan and Ryan, not one time did I ever pressure them or say they needed to go to the University of Missouri. That was all on those guys. I am not that type of coach."