FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas defensive tackle John Ridgeway provided a scouting report on end Tre Williams during training camp.
Williams, like Ridgeway, came to Arkansas this season as a graduate transfer.
“He’s definitely really fast. I mean, explosive,” Ridgeway said. “Comes out of his stance like a mad man.
“I already know he’s going to be giving tackles a run for their money.”
Ridgeway, who transferred from Illinois State, said that during the summer he learned a lot from Williams when they worked out together in the Walker Pavilion.
“I was like, ‘Dang, dude,’ ” Ridgeway said. “Just seeing him and seeing how he can bend and move and how twitchy he is and how he can run up the field, get the tackle’s feet to stop and turn around, make him do a little silly dance or fall down, it’s crazy.
“He’s going to be a really good player. He already is a really good player, but he’s going to be a really, really good player this year.”
Ridgeway’s report on Williams has proven to be spot on.
Williams earned Bednarik national defensive player of the week and SEC defensive player of the week honors after wreaking havoc in the Texas A&M backfield to help the Razorbacks beat the Aggies 20-10.
A sixth-year senior who played at Missouri from 2017-20 after redshirting in 2016, Williams twice sacked A&Ms Zach Calzada, had three quarterback hurries and made four total tackles.
“The reason I was able to play that way was because everybody was doing their job,” Williams said. “Everybody on defense did their job, which made me able to shine.”
Williams, 6-5 and 255 pounds, also drew two holding penalties on offensive tackle Kenyon Green, a preseason All-American.
“He’s excellent and made some really disruptive plays against us,” Texas A&M Coach Jimbo Fisher said. “He’s physically big, he’s long, he can run, he can create power.
“On his pass rush he’s got speed and power. He also did a nice job penetrating in the run game. He plays with relentless effort.”
Williams has provided a consistent pass rush for the Razorbacks after they tied with South Carolina and Vanderbilt for last in sacks in the SEC last season with 14.
“Tre hasn’t really surprised me,” Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman said. “I expected that he would play like he has.
“I’ve been a Tre Williams fan for a long time.”
Pittman was Georgia’s offensive line coach when Williams played for Missouri against the Bulldogs from 2017-19.
Williams combined for eight tackles in those three games and went against Georgia offensive tackles Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson, both first-round NFL Draft picks in 2020. Thomas went No. 4 to the Giants and Wilson No. 29 to the Titans.
“Tre was hard to block with those guys,” Pittman said. “I knew that if we could get him that he could solve some of the pass-rushing issues that we had.”
Williams, who also had five tackles against Pittman and the Razorbacks last season, will be going against Georgia again today when No. 8 Arkansas plays the No. 2 Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium.
“He rushes so hard and has a tremendous motor for toughness,” Georgia Coach Kirby Smart said. “Plays the run and pass well and he’s hard to block.
“I mean, that’s the No. 1 quality of a good defensive player — being hard to block.”
Williams has 15 tackles with 4 sacks for losses of 23 yards and 4 quarterback hurries. His career totals, including 42 games at Missouri, are 100 tackles and 12 1/2 sacks.
“Tre Williams, an absolute dog,” Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson said. “His mentality, all he knows is just full-speed go. That’s in practice, walk-throughs. Great assets coming to the team.”
Razorbacks cornerback LaDarrius Bishop couldn’t help but smile when asked about Williams’ game against Texas A&M.
“Man, seeing it on film, I just loved it,” Bishop said. “He makes the DBs job way more easier in coverage and everything.”
Williams is tied for 12th nationally in sacks.
“I planned on coming here and doing everything I said I was going to do,” Williams said. “Just being able to dominate at end and encourage my teammates, actually being able to see it come to life, was pretty nice.”
Williams didn’t play in Missouri’s final game against Georgia last season after he decided to enter the transfer portal. He left his hometown of Columbia, Mo., where he played at Rock Bridge High School.
“Tre came in and had a conversation about the future, about his future with Mizzou football, and as of right now, he’s exploring opportunities outside of Mizzou football,” Tigers Coach Eli Drinkwitz told reporters at the time.
Drinkwitz added that Williams had “earned the right” to make a move if that’s what he wanted to do.
“I love Tre,” Drinkwitz said. “I love everything about him, the way he plays. And so we wish him the absolute best in whatever he decides to do with his future.”
Williams first transferred to Houston, but left after about three months because he said it wasn’t a good fit.
Arkansas seemed like a natural landing spot because Razorbacks defensive coach Barry Odom was his head coach at Missouri.
“When Tre went into the portal, I probably ran a 5.9 maybe 40 [yard dash] into Barry’s office,” Pittman said on his radio show, drawing big laughs. “That’s a lie. I ran about a 9.9 40 going to see Barry.”
Odom said during training camp that Williams has improved as a pass rusher, but also as a lineman all around.
“Now he’s become an every down player, which is a great benefit for us,” Odom said. “There were times that he was a third down pass rush specialist, and that’s not the case. He’s an every down player now. Credit to him and the work that he’s that he’s done.”
Williams said he’s glad to be reunited with Odom.
“Barry Odom, me and him, we have a real special relationship,” Williams said. “I think everybody on the defense has a special relationship. Even our offense has a special relationship with Barry Odom.
“Just the way he prepares us and the way he talks to us and gets us riled up and the way he lets us know we’re family and all we’ve got is each other is what I love about Barry Odom.”
Arkansas is playing at Georgia for the first time since a 31-24 victory in 2010, but Williams can give his teammates an idea of what to expect between the hedges from having played twice in Athens.
“For my teammates that haven’t seen an environment like that, I’d just say, ‘Soak in the moment. Live in the moment,’” Williams said. “Being on the field, you might not be able to hear, so focus on your keys, look to the sideline, get the play, execute, go hard.
“Just do what you’re supposed to do. Do your job, and we’ll come out with something nice.”