Jordan Williams entering 2021 season with clear, determined mentality
With one month away from the start of the 2021 College Football season, players and coaches are ready to showcase their potential and contend for titles. Some players are ready to show their hunger for some revenge factors this season. One player, for example, is the Virginia Tech Hokies new star defensive tackle Jordan Williams.
It wasn’t long ago that Williams was on the rival ACC team in the Clemson Tigers for the past four seasons. Williams was a four-star recruit for the Tigers in the recruiting class of 2017, where he was the 12th ranked weakside defensive end in the nation. After redshirting in his freshman year in 2017, Williams remained a role player in the Tigers’ defense.
His most impactful year was his redshirt sophomore season in 2019, when he accumulated 22 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. He was expecting to become a full-time starter in the following season. Williams, however, backed up true freshman and the top recruit in the 2020 National Recruiting Class in Bryan Breese.
Williams would eventually enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and enroll at Virginia Tech this offseason. Virginia Tech was one of the other final original choices for Williams in the 2017 recruiting process. Williams will once again get the chance to face off his ACC rivals as a starter for the Hokies. Williams might get some extra juice if the Hokies can play against Clemson in the ACC Conference Championship.
This offseason, Williams was named as the 51st best transfer in the nation according to 247Sports. Williams transferred so he could be an instant contributor for a defense that looks to utilize his great combination of agility, aggressiveness, strength, and speed. Although he has never been a full-time starter, Williams has the experience on one of the top defenses in college football.
Despite the talent, the resume of a highly recruited player (twice), and the experience (38 games with Clemson), Williams was excluded from ACC Network analyst Eric Mac Lain’s top five defensive linemen of the ACC this season. Williams has put this into his mentality to fight and make a name for himself. He even changed his number from #59 to #12 to be the sixth defensive linemen of the Hokies ranging from #3 to #22. There is a clear indication that Williams has a clearer and provoked, determined mentality as he looks to show why he is one of the best defensive linemen in the ACC, even with a new team.
Williams will get his first chance to show that new mentality as he will help lead the Hokies in their week one home matchup versus the top-ten ranked North Carolina Tar Heels on September 3rd.