Starting Lineup: Wyo’s Jven Williams has rare combination of size, power, speed
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the 12 top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
“Starting Lineup” is presented by GoBigRecruiting.com.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked 1 thru 12). Former NFL lineman and recruiting expert Ross Tucker offers comments on each selection.
Jven Williams, Wyomissing
| 6-5 | 300 | Senior | G/T/DT |
BACKSTORY: This time a year ago Williams was pretty much an unknown outside the Spartans’ locker room. He didn’t draw his first start until the season opener of his junior season and was completely off the recruiting radar. That changed rapidly. After sending out a highlight video of his first three games his life changed overnight. Within a few days he picked up half-a-dozen Division I offers; a few days later he got an offer from Penn State. That one resonated with him, and he committed to James Franklin’s program in February.
Williams became a key piece in Wyomissing’s run-oriented offense because of his rare combination of size, power and speed. Even at 6-5, 295 pounds he was able to get out in front of sweeps and make blocks 10, 20 — sometimes 50 yards downfield.
“Big boys typically don’t move like he does,” said Wyomissing line coach Steve O’Neil.
Williams had a particularly big game at Southern Columbia, helping the Spartans end the nation’s longest winning streak with a 41-21 victory.
“He’s pretty impressive coming around the corner,” Spartans coach Bob Wolfrum said. “He can move.
“Sometimes the big guys have trouble making contact out in the open like that, but he doesn’t. Any time you have a big guy who can do the normal (blocking) things but can also pull and get down field, that’s impressive.”
By the end of the season Williams was the top-ranked offensive lineman in the state on many boards, and now is among the top-ranked linemen in the nation. He earned All-State honors in Class 3A as a junior, was named Berks Offensive Lineman of the Year and MikeDragoSports.com’s Lineman of the Year.
ROLE: Not only is Williams capable of pulling and making blocks in open space but he’s capable of playing several positions in Wyomissing’s Wing-T offense. He can easily switch from Lance Guard, the key blocking spot in the scheme, to Strong Tackle. He’ll be part of a massive front line that could be the biggest in the state among Class 3A teams.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Williams plans to enroll at Penn State in January, meaning he’ll miss his senior throwing season. He was the Berks Player of the Year in track and field after winning PIAA championships in the discus and shot put.
TUCKER’S TAKE: “Jven went from a total unknown on recruiting scene to one of the consensus Top 50 players in America in four games. Truly unique blend of size, arm length, explosiveness, and athleticism. Extremely rare to play the Lance Guard spot in Wyomissing offense at that size because of the amount of pulling, but he excels in space and on the move and that ability to demolish smaller people in an open area combined with the raw power he showcased in track make him a rare prospect. Won’t turn 17 until Aug. 30, meaning he should be class of 2024.”
The “Starting Lineup” team was selected by MikeDragoSports.com, with input from Berks coaches and Ross Tucker, co-founder and CEO of GoBigRecruiting.com and a former NFL lineman. Tucker, who played at Wyomissing, has deep contacts throughout college football and remains dialed into Berks football. He offers comments on each of the “Starting Lineup” selections.
After the “Starting Lineup” team has been announced MikeDragoSports.com will present the “Berks Watch List,” which will include 50 more other top players to watch this season.
