Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t jump on the blog the day after a solid high school prospect committed to play for UNT to write a whole lot more about him.
But Dajon Williams isn’t just any high school prospect.
UNT picked up a commitment from a real, live, legitimate college quarterback prospect that other FBS teams have shown an interest in from the high school ranks.
That hasn’t happened at UNT in a long, long time.
UNT didn’t sign a quarterback last year. The Mean Green signed two high school quarterbacks in 2011, but both Cooper Jones and Andrew McNulty were recruited with the understanding that they could move to another position. Jones already has, shifting over to tight end, while McNulty is third string heading into next season.
UNT signed Derrick Teegarden in 2010, but knew from the start that he wouldn’t end up playing quarterback. He’s a wide receiver now.
Derek Thompson, UNT’s starter heading into next season, is arguably the last legit quarterback prospect the team has signed. That was in 2009 and Thompson was an under-the-radar recruit.
Giovanni Vizza was the last highly regarded quarterback to come to UNT — in 2007.
UNT’s staff has to be thrilled.
Teams just don’t have a chance it they don’t have a quarterback. The Mean Green will have one next year it can depend on in Thompson and one to develop down the line in Williams.
Just take a look around the Sun Belt last year. Arkansas State had Ryan Aplin and finished 10-3. Louisiana-Lafayette had Blaine Gautier and finished 9-4.
Aplin was on the All-Sun Belt first team, while Gautier was a second-team pick.
UNT last had an All-Sun Belt quarterback since Scott Hall made the team in back-to-back years in 2003-04, when the Mean Green was winning Sun Belt titles.
The commitment Williams made to the Mean Green gives UNT some hope for the future, beyond Thompson’s time with the Mean Green. UNT’s starter could yet turn out to be an elite Sun Belt player.
Williams will also have that opportunity. At 6-4 with top-end athleticism, he has the tools UNT is looking for. The question will be if UNT’s coaches can develop him. I have a copy of Dave Campbell’s Texas Football in front of me. Williams isn’t listed among the top 30 quarterback prospects in the state.
UNT will have to hope he exceeds those expectations by the time he finishes his career in Denton.
What he does give UNT is some hope for the future. At this point that is all UNT can ask for considering the situation it is in.