2024 ATH Aneyas Williams earns Alabama offer and visit after historic season

For years, Hannibal (Mo.) Excessive soccer had run an option-based offense. Tight handoffs and fixed strain melding right into a grueling run-first assault. It had labored for Jeff Gschwender for almost all of his 4 seasons as offensive coordinator. However then Aneyas Williams walked onto campus.

From the second Williams began observe, coaches realized he not solely appeared the a part of an all-purpose again — he measured at 5-foot-10, 195-pounds earlier than he completed tenth grade — however the soccer IQ and play velocity to match. In his first recreation in opposition to Jefferson Metropolis and Pete Adkins, a coach with greater than 400 profession wins, Williams acquired a pitch and steamrolled defenders. Gschwender’s playbook opened up shortly after.

“He simply got here out and a person amongst youngsters to let you know the reality. He simply goes on the market and makes strikes that look really easy. As coaches you go, completely he ought to try this. However highschool youngsters don’t try this sort of stuff,” Gschwender stated.

Williams’ stats are eye-popping with 71 touchdowns in two seasons, together with 2,000-plus all-purpose yards as a sophomore. A comparatively quiet recruitment expects to choose up this summer time. A showcase at an Oregon soccer camp led to Geese coaches speaking to Williams and providing him this previous winter. He holds different presents from Northwestern, Boston Faculty and California-Berkley. As soon as Alabama grew to become Williams’ tenth supply, different faculties began calling and messaging. Georgia, Auburn, LSU and others quickly adopted. He’s again at Notre Dame this weekend for a second journey to South Bend, Indiana.

Gschwnder has seen Williams’ inside motivation as he’s turn into the point of interest of the Pirates’ offense. He traces up within the slot and on the boundary, Gschwnder at all times searching for a chance to take a shot or get it rapidly to Williams and see if he makes a would-be tackler miss. He was named to the all-state workforce as a receiver, however his coaches are assured that it doesn’t matter what the place, he would’ve cracked the listing. Williams caught 63 passes and scored 24 touchdowns as a junior, including some weight to face up to a bigger workload.

Born from an athletic household, Williams is a two-sport athlete, centering himself across the gridiron and monitor, which Gschwnder additionally coaches. Williams’ late father holds a few of Hannibal’s monitor information, which Williams goals to interrupt in his remaining two years. Gschwnder stated Williams seeks out the competitors, even wrapping up a monitor meet earlier than heading to Tuscaloosa earlier this week for his first go to.

“He’s getting actually excited nearly the entire course of. He’s having fun with the expertise, having a look at what everyone has to supply. He’s taking it in stride however ensuring he’s preparing for soccer season as effectively.”

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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Comply with him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or electronic mail him at NAlvarez@al.com.