Just Getting Started: Jarren Williams opens up with CatsIllustrated.com
Cats Illustrated introduces a new series, set to run with regular installments, on four-star Kentucky quarterback commitment Jarren Williams.
He'll be covering a range of topics from his last semester of high school to the recruiting process and from his relationship with the Kentucky coaches to his preparation for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Cats Illustrated: You've started out your senior season strong, individually and your team, could you talk about how you feel like your season has gone?
Jarren Williams: I think we started out kinda good, just facing adversity with these close games and being able to fight and finish the games. It's just showed that we have the potential to be a great team this year. The game last night, we got up 17-0 and came out of halftime and we just got a lot of penalties and had a lot of drops. Things weren't really going our way. They ended up coming back and we went to overtime. But being able to fight and go to the end and finish the game, it just shows that we have the fight. We'll fix our mistakes. We just have heart.
This year it's more of a team. We have more leaders on our team. I just feel like there's things I can improve on in terms of the Roswell game. I missed the back because I was trying to go down the field. I've just got to take what the defense gives you. This game I really made sure I was hitting the back and that helped open up a lot of things. Each game individually we're getting better and I'm starting to see things and feel more comfortable.
Cats Illustrated: Whether you've had a chance to watch Kentucky's offense this year or not, based on what you've seen and heard, what do you think and how are you feeling about things?
Williams: I really just want to see more, to see more in that offense, you know. I'm watching, just watching, and I would like to see more of it. I would like to see the offense in terms of picturing myself in the offense and just watching the game. Coach Gran and Coach Hinshaw are great coaches. I'm really looking to see more in terms of, you know, my skill set and what offense I would like to play in and what I'm looking for."
Cats Illustrated: It was reported that some other schools have still been recruiting you. Where does that stand? And it was also reported that you might taking other official visits. Have you made any decisions about that?
Williams: LSU, South Carolina and Alabama have been the main schools that have consistently been talking to me. (On officials) we're going to sit down and talk about everything today, actually.
Cats Illustrated: You were recently invited to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. What did that mean to you?
Williams: I'm just so grateful to even be selected to play in this game, to go out and play for our country and represent the United States, I'm just really grateful for the opportunity.
Cats Illustrated: Did the UK coaches reach out to you after that?
Williams: Oh yeah, a lot of coaches. Coach Hinshaw and a couple of guys from the UK staff and a lot of other coaches I have a great relationship with (elsewhere).
Cats Illustrated: Is there a message you'd like to share with the Big Blue Nation?
Williams: I would just let them know I appreciate their support through everything, that I'm very appreciative for everything.