Texas football adds first 2025 LB commit Anthony Williams

Texas football added its first commitment of the new year to the 2025 recruiting class on Jan. 1 from three-star Pearland (TX) Shadow Creek outside linebacker/edge rusher Anthony "Deuce" Williams. Williams committed to Texas over 11 other finalist schools, including the Oregon Ducks, Auburn Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and Baylor Bears, among many others.

The 6-foot-4 and 190-pound outside backer visited Austin multiple times in the last year. Among the more recent visits he took to Texas was for the late July pool party/BBQ in Austin.

Texas football adds its fourth 2025 commitment in 3-Star OLB Anthony Williams

Texas officially extended Williams a scholarship offer on July 27 during his visit for the pool party/BBQ pash.

Williams also caught the attention of the Texas coaches during his visit for the Elite Camp in early June.

He told Horns247 that he got good feedback from the coaches, including head coach Steve Sakrisian and co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Jeff Choate.

"When I first went to the elite camp back in June I balled out and the coaches loved me because I did good on all the drills and I just fell in love with Texas right then and there. Coach Choate talked to me and said he liked how I moved and that he liked how I do things and I talked to coach Sark as well and he said he liked me and would consider me going to Texas going forward."

Texas adds a high-upside pass rusher in Williams

Williams is a lengthy and multi-faceted pass-rushing specialist who still has some room to grow into his 6-foot-4 frame. He's got excellent quickness in his get-off coming off the edge in the pass rush. The combination of quick burst and natural bend coming off the EDGE makes Williams a very viable impact pass rusher in the SEC for multiple years.

What also makes Williams a unique EDGE/outside linebacker prospect is his versatility. He not only has the tools and quickness to succeed as a pass rusher off the edge, but he is also good in space and dropping back into pass coverage.

Williams has the versatility to play in the box as a rangy and instinctual backer. He's good at finding the ball carrier and he's got the recognition and closing speed to get them to the ground.

Areas of improvement

Williams does a little bit of everything pretty well from the linebacker/hybrid EDGE position. But he is still a pretty raw prospect regarding his fit in a more defined defensive scheme at the collegiate level.

As a pass rusher, Williams still needs to become a more strong and assertive force coming off the edge. He not only needs to add weight to become a bigger force as a pass rusher, but also to compete physically with some of the bigger backs and blockers in the SEC.

Projection and fit at Texas

The Houston area product Williams is that type of lengthy and versatile defender that has the ideal skill set of a modern linebacker. His natural fit at Texas would be in that hybrid edge rusher/outside backer role similar to what true freshman Anthony Hill Jr. has played for the Longhorns this season.

Williams could also be a fit at the jack position if he adds 30 or 40 pounds of muscle mass to his frame in the next 18 months or so.

Since Williams is still a prospect that needs some refinement technique-wise and to add some muscle mass to his frame, he'll be viewed as a developmental player with long-term upside.

With Williams in the mix now, the Longhorns have four recruits committed to the 2025 class. Williams is the second defensive recruit to commit to the Longhorns in the 2025 class, with the other being four-star Melbourne (FL) Eau Gallie defensive lineman Brandon Brown.

Texas also has commitments from four-star Saraland (AL) quarterback KJ Lacey and four-star Calhoun (GA) tight end Emaree Winston in the 2025 class.