As soon as Avantae Williams, the nation’s No. 1 safety, announced his commitment to the Oregon Ducks last December, the rumors began.
He won’t stick with Oregon.
Those rumblings grew even louder in mid-June when Williams tweeted that his recruitment was still open and tweeted out several pictures on various visits.
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound defensive back, out of Deland High School (Deland, Florida), appeared to be an Oregon commit in name only.
But for a year he stayed committed.
Until Wednesday evening.
That’s when Williams announced his decommitment from the Ducks on Twitter:
After a lot of thought and consideration I have decided I am de-committing from the University of Oregon, my signing will be in February.
— Tae Williams (@SlowDownBoy7) December 12, 2019
Analysis
I wrote a piece months ago that Williams shouldn’t be listed as a commitment, but it took until a week before the early signing period to become official.
Still, it’s hard to know what to make of this decision.
If the Ducks are able to sign five-star cornerback Kelee Ringo, the nation’s No. 1 player at his position, and four-star prospect Dontae Manning, the nation’s No. 3 cornerback, after the early signing period folks will forget the Williams departure.
However, if the defensive back class were to lose another player, say Myles Slusher, and Oregon doesn’t get at least one of the two bluechip recruits still in play it will be seen as a disappointment.
Losing the nation’s No. 1 safety stings - there’s no argument there.
But the defensive back haul may still be an historic group when the sun finally sets on the 2020 recruiting cycle.
Oregon fans will have to be patient.
-- Andrew Nemec