Jordan Williams Preseason Freshman All American

[Architorture23]

Probably a combination of both. There’s plenty of better frosh OTs our there on better OL units that won’t get the chance to start day 1. They don’t get picked for these lists because of expected playing time. Probably a lot of worse ones too though.

yes but even if Cochran were here, Williams would be getting a lot of PT. Probably wouldn't be starting but he would have likely been next in the rotation at tackle.

 

[The Champ]

[

Not really. He was being compared to freshmen in other programs, not with upperclassmen in our program.

If he weren’t a projected starter he wouldn’t be on this list. If we had any returning talent on the OL he wouldn’t be starting a true freshman tackle

 

[gtrower]

yes but even if Cochran were here, Williams would be getting a lot of PT. Probably wouldn't be starting but he would have likely been next in the rotation at tackle.

Well yeah. If he’s now starting then he 100% would have been next up in the rotation. Not sure what “a lot of PT” would look like though. Cochran/Quinney would have been a solid (above ACC average) pair of starting tackles. Hard to say how good Williams is until we actually get to see him play. But it’s not like we have many other options at this point.

Regardless excited to see him play and hope ends up on this same list in December. The experience should pay dividends in 21/22 (depending on eligibility) when we lose most of our other starters.

 

[Architorture23]

Well yeah. If he’s now starting then he 100% would have been next up in the rotation. Not sure what “a lot of PT” would look like though. Cochran/Quinney would have been a solid (above ACC average) pair of starting tackles. Hard to say how good Williams is until we actually get to see him play. But it’s not like we have many other options at this point.

Regardless excited to see him play and hope ends up on this same list in December. The experience should pay dividends in 21/22 (depending on eligibility) when we lose most of our other starters.

Well, he has beaten out Clark and Defoor, teo guys who have some decent experience.

 

[gtrower]

Well, he has beaten out Clark and Defoor, teo guys who have some decent experience.

Isn’t DeFoor starting at G?

 

[JJacket]

Nat Dorsey schooled Julius Peppers all damn night. What a game

 

[Architorture23]

Isn’t DeFoor starting at G?

Yes he is at Guard now because they feel good with Williams at OT. They definitely have more options that can play Guard than Tackle. Sounds like it's going to be Quinney, Defoor, Minihan, Johnson, Williams from L to R.

But sounds like, to me, that the 1st OT off the bench could possibly be Defoor moving back to OT with Cooper at G.

 

[gtrower]

Yes he is at Guard now because they feel good with Williams at OT. They definitely have more options that can play Guard than Tackle. Sounds like it's going to be Quinney, Defoor, Minihan, Johnson, Williams from L to R.

But sounds like, to me, that the 1st OT off the bench could possibly be Defoor moving back to OT with Cooper at G.

DeFoor is arguably our best OL. He was the only OL to make any post-2019 pre-2020 All ACC lists. Key likes position flexibility, but DeFoor would be starting regardless of JW’s status.

 

[Flywheel]

DeFoor is arguably our best OL. He was the only OL to make any post-2019 pre-2020 All ACC lists. Key likes position flexibility, but DeFoor would be starting regardless of JW’s status.

Kenny Cooper is back too.

 

[JJacket]

Kenny Cooper is back too.

He may be too big to play center now. I'd expect him at guard. I have not heard how well his hip healed

 

[Architorture23]

He may be too big to play center now. I'd expect him at guard. I have not heard how well his hip healed

He is likely to play Guard mostly. He said the other day that he is just recently back to 100%.

Minihan has been playing very well at Center with William Lay being his first backup.

 

[ramblin_wreck08]

Yes he is at Guard now because they feel good with Williams at OT. They definitely have more options that can play Guard than Tackle. Sounds like it's going to be Quinney, Defoor, Minihan, Johnson, Williams from L to R.

But sounds like, to me, that the 1st OT off the bench could possibly be Defoor moving back to OT with Cooper at G.

Looking at that lineup just made me feel much better about our OL heading into the year. I don’t expect the depth will be where we want it, but that should be a competent starting 5.

 

[OptionsJacket]

Looking at that lineup just made me feel much better about our OL heading into the year. I don’t expect the depth will be where we want it, but that should be a competent starting 5.

We ought to be much improved.

 

[Killick]

So Williams is a pre-season freshman AA. He's not even the OL from last year I was most excited about - that would be Paula Vaipulu.

And not to draw any comparisons (which at this point would be absurd) but I remember a freshman center back in 1984 who was to face off against a consensus All-American noseguard from Clemson who went on to be an All-Pro noseguard for the Chicago Bears. Our true freshman center ate him alive on national television (which in 1984 was a big deal). Our center was John Davis who ended up playing in five Superbowls. The noseguard was William "The Refrigerator" Perry. You know the rest of the story.

So, yes, a freshman can, on occasion, start and kick butt from day one. Not saying any of our freshman OL will but I've seen it happen and I like our chances.

Pretty sure Davis was a sophomore that year. Nonetheless, it was fun to watch the day. Especially the best Lavette run late in the 4th qtr to set up the TD.