Ashante Williams
Star Linebacker
5′-11″, 205 lbs.
Senior (on scholarship, 1 year to play 1)
Mayfield HS / Mayfield, Ohio

ALE Ranking last year: #19
ALE Ranking in 2010: #39

What I Know About Him:

Ashante has been here a LONG time. Him and Graham Pocic. Both of them enrolled early as freshmen (along with Whitney Mercilus and Mikel Leshoure), and both of them redshirted, which means they’ve both been through five full springs and five full Camp Rantouls. That’s a lot of football in the orange and blue.

What I Expect From Him:

Ashante finally gets his shot at starting. He was in line to possibly start last year, but a suspension from the team in the summer led to Trulon Henry moving to Sam linebacker and Ashante backing him up when he returned. He also had an outside shot at starting in 2010, but Nate Bussey won the job as Vic Koenning’s hybrid linebacker/safety, so Ashante was second string that year as well.

Now, Sam Linebacker (called “star” in this defense) is all Ashante’s. Well, as long as freshman phenom TaJarvis Fuller doesn’t take it away from him. I don’t think he will. Ashante gets to shine his senior year. And hopefully go to his third consecutive bowl game.