4-star DB Joel Williams picks Kentucky Wildcats

The Kentucky Wildcats have struck again!

Head coach Mark Stoops and his staff have landed four-star defensive back Joel Williams, who made his college announcement one day after UK's historic National Signing Day haul.

Williams will become the 21st commitment of the 2020 recruiting class and is yet another young gem that will join a stellar group of talent for the Wildcats, which includes a host of four/five-star recruits.

Before Williams’ commitment, Kentucky’s recruiting class ranked 23rd in the country (per 247 Sports) and now it should be somewhere inside the top 20. In the SEC, Kentucky’s class was ninth before adding Williams, which shows how hard it is to recruit and stand out in the SEC.

But after watching Stoops and his staff take low three-star and even some unranked players and develop them into NFL players, imagine what UK will start doing with so many four-star players like Williams on the roster.

As the fourth defensive back to join Kentucky’s 2020 class, he’ll come in as the highest-rated recruit in the secondary. In fact, three of Kentucky’s four-star recruits are defensive players. Williams is listed as an athlete, but the expectation is he’ll play corner or safety at UK.

Standing 6-1, 180 pounds, Williams plays for Madison Prep Academy in Baton Rouge. Per 247 Sports, he ranks 304th in the nation. On November 21st, Williams released his final list that included Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, UK and LSU, which speaks to have massive of a get this was for the Wildcats, especially since they’re getting him from the Tigers’ own backyard as they’re set to play in the College Football Playoff after winning the SEC.

While Williams’ decision was of course his and solely his alone, a transfer by a fellow classmate in the class of 2020 may have played a significant role in the four-star recruit joining the Wildcats. Back in August, former LSU defensive back Kelvin Joseph announced his transfer to Kentucky. Of course, Williams responded with encouraging words.

Again, a commitment by Williams moves Kentucky’s 2020 recruiting class higher up the list of best in the country. In fact, the Wildcats’ may potentially land a top-15 recruiting class for the first time in the Stoops era, depending on what guys like Michael Drennen and Vito Tisdale end up doing.

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