Signing Day Profile: Defensive back Domonique Williams
Cats Illustrated's Signing Day Profile series continues with another player who's sure to sign with the Wildcats on Wednesday. That's defensive back Domonique Williams, who will enroll early and compete for playing time in 2018.
Bio in Brief
Defensive back Domonique Williams
5'11, 185 pounds
Highland C.C. (Highland, Kan.) / Knoxville (Tenn.) Fulton
Rating: Three-stars (5.5)
Other offers: Iowa State, Colorado State, Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, Northern Illinois, Austin Peay
Recruiting Overview
Williams was committed to Eastern Kentucky as a high school prospect coming out of Knoxville (Tenn.) Fulton, and that played a role in helping him land at Kentucky. Dean Hood was the Colonels' coach back then, and he served as the Wildcats' lead recruiter for Williams.
Over the summer Williams attended a camp at Kentucky and he was one of the defensive back standouts while in Lexington that day. After landing an offer from Mark Stoops' staff it didn't take long for Williams to settle on Kentucky. Prior to that Iowa State and several Group of Five schools had been interested.
He has not wavered since committing to Kentucky.
Scouting Report
Williams has been coveted by Kentucky primarily because of his versatility in the secondary. The obvious fit for him would seem to be at cornerback because he has requisite cover skills and the physicality to play the run, taking on blocks and making tackles closer to the line of scrimmage.
Coming out of high school Williams was not the physical player in the secondary that he's developed into. Working with his trainer, Williams was able to add about 20 pounds of primarily muscle mass, and that's increased his stock as a prospect.
He has enough speed and the combination of hips and footwork to play cornerback but his best asset in coverage is the way he breaks on the football.
Forecast for 2018 & Beyond
Williams wasn't recruited to sit. In addition to his strengths, Kentucky's coaching staff liked the fact that he could fill the nickel position that will be vacated by Kendall Randolph (and possibly Mike Edwards) after this season. He would have to compete for that spot, but it would not be a surprise to see Williams log significant playing time in 2018.
Longer term, Williams will have two seasons of eligibility at his disposal. But he will also have a redshirt year. That might not come into play because of the need for someone to play the nickel spot.
Quotable
"He's a very, very versatile corner. He's got great hips and great feet. Plus, he's just got that mentality, if something happens on a play he forgets about it pretty quickly. Like all good DB's, you have to have a very short memory and he has that. He's also got the "it" factor you can't teach. Just a very special player."
- Chris Treece, Williams' trainer
