Ole Miss Rebels fans have a lot to be excited for. The Rebels are a certified top 10 team in the country, and after Alabama’s loss to Tennessee have moved into the first-place conversation in the SEC west with a chance to play for an SEC Championship. Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin has proven that he can not only coach at an SEC level but can bring more success to Oxford, Mississippi than they have seen in a decade. USC transfer and Ole Miss quarterback, Jaxson Dart, is looking better and better as the year goes on and the wins pile up. But, Ole Miss fans have even more reason to be excited. Next season, the Rebels will add another elite playmaker in Ayden Williams.
A 6’3, 195 lbs. wide receiver from Ridgeland high school, Ayden Williams has been putting up big numbers for the Ridgeland Titans for years. Since his freshman year, Williams has recorded 179 receptions for 3,015 yards and 33 touchdowns, and according to head coach Teddy Dyess, he has a real chance of putting up 1500 yards in his senior season. So far, in his senior season, Williams has 54 catches for 1,038 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Williams’ Recruitment Journey
Ayden Williams’ recruitment journey started when he was in tenth grade. After the first game of his sophomore season, Williams received three college offers and his journey took off from there. Throughout his high school career, Williams received offers from big-time SEC schools, including Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.
“It ain’t really hit me yet that I was getting college scholarship. I was just playing,” Williams said when asked about his recruitment journey. “It really just humbled me, to be honest. I’m just thankful for the opportunity that all these coaches across the country believe in me enough to give me a full-ride scholarship.”
Ridgeland head coach Teddy Dyess kept it simple when asked about Williams’ recruitment journey. “It was wild.”
Ole Miss Gets Their Man
Though he received offers from schools all over the country, William was set between two schools. “I think for the longest time it was Ole Miss and Tennessee,” said Coach Dyess. In the end, Williams chose to take his talents to Oxford, Mississippi and play for the Ole Miss Rebels.
“What really made me settle on Ole Miss was just the home feeling I got,” said Williams. “I just felt like Ole Miss gave me the best opportunity to, you know, put my mama in that house when I get to the league or the best opportunity to get to the league.”
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart will have an elite offensive weapon when Williams steps on campus next year. When speaking on his future teammate, Williams said, “I can’t wait to get up there and give him a big target to throw to. Me and him, we should have a lot of touchdowns. Mark my words.” Ole Miss has had a run-heavy offense this season. However, many believe that the passing game will be used more next season when Dart becomes a more developed quarterback and is more comfortable in the Rebels system.
One of the things that Williams said he is looking forward to is learning more about the game from Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin has quickly become one of the most successful coaches to come to Oxford, Mississippi. The former Nick Saban protégé has led Ole Miss to its best start in a decade. The rebels are having an incredible season with a record of at 7-1 and sit as a highly ranked team.
The big question for every high schooler making the move to college football is: Is he ready? It is a big move going from high school football in Central Mississippi to the SEC. After all, the way Ole Miss is trending, Williams could find himself playing for a championship in his freshman year. His coach believes that, while the SEC will be a shock to Williams, his star player will be able to adjust to the level of competition.
“He’s going to find out that he’s not the only great player around anymore,” said Dyess. “But I think Ayden has the mindset and puts in the extra work and stuff; he’s going to adjust just fine.”
As for Williams, He is ready to get work. “People always ask me, if Alabama offered me would I go,” Williams said. “I always been the guy who wants to go knock off the number one seed. You know, I’m ready to go fight with them boys up there at Ole Miss, try to go win a natty. I feel like if you go put me on that big stage it’s really just going to show what Mississippi’s got to offer and I got to offer as a player.
Ayden Williams the Man
On the field, Ayden Williams has been incredible. But who is he as a person? Coach Dyess said he’s never seen a high school kid improve in his maturity like Williams. “I texted his mom the other day and told her in 30 years I’ve never seen a kid improve as a person as much as Ayden has,” said Dyess. “A leader on and off the field, leader in the school, just such a good example on a daily basis for our football program.” After speaking to Williams, you can tell exactly what his coach is talking about. He possesses the willingness to learn and the ability to execute. He walks with a humble confidence you don’t always see in high school football players. Ole Miss has a lot to look forward to in their new receiver.
