Reid WilliamsCollege football coaches want their players to be tough, so getting a few stitches might have been the best thing that could have happened to Reid Williams.
The Ringgold High School offensive lineman committed Thursday to play for Rusty Wright and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs. According to Tigers coach Robert Akins, Williams displayed ample grit at a recent UTC camp when he kept competing after being injured.
"He went to their camp, and it's funny, he got butted in the head and had to get stitches, so they saw how tough he is," Akins said of the 6-foot-1, 290-pound three-year starter. "He's got a great attitude, is tough and works hard - all the things you look for in a college football player."
Williams, whose mother is employed at UTC, is looking forward to being able to play close to home.
"The moment I stepped on campus I felt comfortable," said Williams, who carries a 4.0 grade point at Ringgold. "The new coaches have a mentality to win, and I wanted to be a part of the wave. Being able to play for my hometown college is a blessing. Family, friends and coaches can come out and see the guy they helped get to this position."
Williams, who had among his offers one from the Naval Academy, likely will play center for UTC. It's a position Akins, for one, believes the burly Williams is built for.
"He's as good a center that I've ever had," Akins said. "I told Rusty that I am so excited that he's at UTC and that Reid is going to play for a man with integrity. He's going to do some great things there, and Reid is going to help him do great things."
Williams is the latest Ringgold lineman to earn a college scholarship offer - joining, among others, his older brother Bucky, who redshirted last season at Austin Peay.
"Chase Fleming is the best offensive line coach I've had in 40 years," Akins said, "so Reid, who is a lot like his brother, has been coached up. Five years we've had eight linemen commit, and a lot of it has to do with how they are coached here."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.