The Recruiting Guy

Springdale's Williams expected to go from unknown to known this season

Springdale junior receiver Kyler Williams.

He’s an unknown going into his junior season, but Springdale receiver Kyler Williams likely won’t stay that way.

Springdale Coach Zac Clark, who spent five seasons as Fayetteville’s offensive coordinator before being hired in January, said Williams reminds him of former Fayetteville receiver and current Tulsa Hurricane Jordan Dennis.

“He’s real fluid, the ways he gets in and out of breaks,” Clark said. “He runs great routes and he’s got excellent ball skills.”

Williams, 5-10, 165 pounds saw very limited action as a sophomore.

“If he was 6-1 or 6-2, everybody in the country would be after him,” Clark said.

Clark knows about college talent. He started 10 games at quarterback for Arkansas in 2001 before transferring to Central Arkansas and becoming fourth on the Bears’ all-time career passing yards list, fourth in career passing touchdowns and career pass completions.

Clark said Williams is tough and plays bigger than his size. The Bulldogs plan to move him around to take advantage of his playmaking ability.

“He’s tremendously tough, he’s as a tough as a wide recover as I’ve had,” Clark said.

Williams, who’s also a standout on the basketball team, is expected to be a major contributor this fall.

“For us to have a good year, he’s going to have to have a just a big year and he’s going to have every opportunity to do that,” Clark said. “When that happens he’ll have a lot of options next year going into his senior year.”

Williams runs the 40 yard dash in 4.6 seconds. Clark said he expects Williams to improve on his speed.

“He’s going to have to get some technique work in,” Clark said. “I think for his size to be a big-time Division I guy, he’s going to have a to run a 4.4. I think he can potentially do that. We want him playing basketball and other sports, but at the same time we’re going work hard this offseason on his 40 technique. His start isn’t very good and he still ran a 4.6.”

The Bulldogs will be young with 16 sophomores listed in the two-deep. Clark believes one in the group will have a chance to be highly recruited.

“I think our next big time college recruit is going to be Isaiah Nichols,” said Clark of the move-in from Little Rock. “He’s a 6-4, 240 defensive end that can run. He’s never played football.”