Indiana checked all the boxes for Andrean’s Cameron Williams.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker will get a good education. He’ll play in a system that’s geared toward his strengths. And most importantly, the Hoosiers wanted him.
Badly.
In a press conference Wednesday at Andrean, Williams announced he had picked IU over Purdue, Arizona, Cincinnati and Kentucky.
Williams will play a roving linebacker position. His versatility at covering the run and the pass or at moving from sideline to sideline made him a coveted prospect.
During his junior season, the 59ers used Williams primarily as a rush linebacker. He finished with 15 sacks in 2017.
In 2018, he only had two sacks but 15 tackles for losses, two interceptions and five pass deflections. Williams was selected first team all-area in 2017 and 2018.
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Williams wants to be an all-around playmaker. Andrean moved him to a drop linebacker spot this season so he could prove his versatility.
Williams made his official visit to Indiana the weekend of Dec. 7. That’s when he solidified his decision. He’s the second player from Northwest Indiana to sign with the Hoosiers in the last two years.
Lowell graduate Jordan Jusevitch, a safety, finished his freshman year last season at Indiana. According to Williams, Jusevitch redshirted.
“IU presented everything I needed,” Williams said. “I’m about planning. I know what I’m going to do when I get there. It was just something I couldn’t pass up.”
Andrean coach Chris Skinner said Indiana was the first team to recruit Williams, who started getting attention last year during the season.
“They were the first conference team from the Power Five to show up and ask about him,” Skinner said. “They were consistent throughout.”
Williams said Purdue showed early interest but backed off. He’s glad the recruiting is over.
“This is a big weight off my shoulders,” he said. “I can finally tell people I’m going to IU.”