Antonio Williams to Wisconsin: Badgers Land 4-Star RB Prospect

Wisconsin has landed its next potential star at running back. Antonio Williams announced his commitment to the Badgers on Thursday, choosing them over co-finalists Auburn, Duke, Notre Dame and Georgia.

Benjamin Worgull of Scout.com had the report:

A 4-star recruit from North Stanly High School in New London, North Carolina, Williams was considered a lock to attend Wisconsin for much of the process. 247Sports' Crystal Ball projections gave the Badgers an 82 percent chance of landing the commitment as of Thursday morning, with Georgia (12 percent) and Auburn (six percent) the only others receiving consideration.    

Wisconsin hosted Williams for his unofficial visit for its 34-24 victory over Minnesota on Nov. 29. An impressive trip to Madison undoubtedly left the Badgers an even bigger advantage; Williams very publicly bemoaned having to leave the campus:

Of course, that's all without mentioning their recent run of pro-ready running backs. Melvin Gordon is well on his way to a trip to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Gordon has rushed for 2,260 yards and 26 touchdowns heading into Saturday's Big Ten Championship Game and is considered a potential first-round pick, per CBSSports.com.

Wisconsin has produced at least one 1,000-yard rusher each of the last six seasons. Gordon will look to join Montee Ball and James White as the recent Badgers who are now rumbling on Sundays. 

Credit: 247Sports

Auburn is the only other finalist that could boast about its recent running back success. Tre Mason, a Heisman finalist last season, is currently the starting running back for the St. Louis Rams. Notre Dame is one of the most storied programs in the country and Duke appears to be on the rise, but the line of logic is clear as to why most expected Williams to become a Badger.

Listed at 5'11" and 210 pounds, Williams is North Carolina's third-best player in the 2016 class. Only outside linebacker Keion Joyner and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence are higher on 247Sports' composite rankings.

As a junior, he rushed for 2,852 yards and 36 touchdowns, per 247Sports. Competition level will be a bit of a question given the disparity between Big Ten play and his local high schools, but Williams appears to be developing into a star.

He doesn't boast elite speed but runs with a decisiveness and can overpower smaller defenders. Much more Ball than Gordon in terms of his downfield burst, Williams will need to prove he can handle elite college speeds before he becomes a contributor.

That said, he's still more than a year away from arriving in Madison. Thus far, he's proved himself to be quite adaptable. 

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.