D.J.'s Getting Close

In his weekly recruiting column for Hawgs Illustrated and The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas, Dudley E. Dawon chats with CAC tight end David Williams (6-3, 245). This story is sponsored by the Arkansas Toyota Dealers. It's free and so is a special offer to attend a Razorback event on the Arkansas Toyota Dealers website. Click on a banner for details.

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David Williams would make it a Dandy Dozen.

Williams (6-3, 245), the highly regarded tight end from Central Arkansas Christian, said Sunday night that he was on the verge of making a commitment to either the University of Arkansas or Oklahoma State in “a week or so.”

Williams, who will be in Fayetteville for the fourth time in a couple of months on Saturday for the Razorbacks’ game with Alabama, is a high priority recruit for Arkansas, who has gotten 10 2007 commits and one 2008 pledge so far.

“I’m about there,” Williams said. “I am about 90 percent sure where I want to go, just want to take a little more time and be 100 percent sure. I am guessing I’ll announce something in a week or so.”

His decision will come after watching Arkansas beat Vanderbilt 21-19 on television Saturday afternoon and then attending the Florida-Tennessee game in Knoxville on Saturday night.

“The crowd was amazing (at Tennessee) and it was a great game,” Williams said. “But I’m really not a big fan of either school and I just went because the Tennessee (assistant) coach (Steve Caldwell) told me they had some tickets if I wanted them and I have a friend who is a big Tennessee fan and wanted to go.”

As for Arkansas game, Williams - who admits he is an Arkansas fan - thinks the Razorback offense is really beginning to come around with freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain.

“I really like what I am seeing from them and the new system,” Williams said. “I think Mitch is getting comfortable and we are getting the ball down the field a lot to the wideouts and tight ends and still having the great running game.”

Williams, who also goes by D.J., has been able to be on hand to see Arkansas and Oklahoma State play this season with the Cowboys actually playing in Little Rock against Arkansas State a little over a week ago.

He also visited Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Ole Miss and Mississippi State before narrowing it down to Arkansas and OSU.

“I think I’ve seen enough of both teams to know where they are headed and how I would fit in at both places,” Williams said.

Williams has 11 catches for 113 yards, has rushed 5 times for 42 yards, is averaging over 10 tackles per game, has five sacks and is averaging 45 yards a punt for good measure.

That comes after a junior season in which he 51 passes for 688 yards and 8 touchdowns and had 132 tackles with eight sacks while lining up at defensive end, defensive tackle and linebacker.

But unlike last season when the Mustangs went 13-2 without losing back-to-back, CAC is riding a two-game losing streak.

After falling 36-34 to Pulaski Academy on Sept. 8, CAC fell to Little Rock Christian 35-21 last Friday night to drop to 1-2.

“It’ was how we played in the first half again just like at PAT,” Williams said. “That and having five turnovers. You just can’t make that many turnovers and expect to win football games.”

The Mustangs have a chance to start over again when they visit Mena Friday night while opening 7-4A conference play.

“It’s a long bus ride, but the hard work we need to put in is doing the week to make sure we are ready to play once we get there and play from the start,” Williams said. “We’ve just got to cut down the turnovers and know that our younger guys are getting there.”

Williams will then make his way on to Fayetteville for the Arkansas-Alabama game that is being nationally televised by CBS at 2:30 p.m.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Williams said. “It’s a big game.”

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Tidbits:

...Fort Smith Northside quarterback Kodi Burns, Rogers offensive lineman Lee Ziemba and Garland (Texas) North Garland linebacker Jermaine Love (6-0, 220) are just three of the football prospects expected to be on hand this weekend along with Williams and numerous others.

...Richardson (Texas) Berkner defensive tackle Adrian Campbell (6-4, 240) has changed his official visit to Arkansas to the weekend of the Razorbacks’ game with Tennessee on Nov. 11 after previously having it schedule for the USC game and then this weekend.

...The UA basketball team is set to officially host Lake Charles (La.) LaGrange small forward Chris Gradnigo (6-6, 200) this weekend with some 2008 prospects likely also on hand on unofficial visits.

Gradnigo is also planning to visit Cincinnati and Notre Dame.