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In Mark Richt’s final recruiting class in 2018, one of his most lauded victories was securing the signature of Under Armour All-American QB Jarren Williams out of Central Gwinnett High School in Georgia. The dual-threat QB had a strong arm and polished mechanics, and with plenty of questions at the position headed into last season, many fans believed he could fight for playing time as a true freshman. Despite another subpar season at the position, the coaching staff decided to preserve a year of eligibility for Williams, and instead switching back and forth between Malik Rosier and N’Kosi Perry.
Headed into the 2019 offseason, Manny Diaz was named the new head coach, and one of his first declarations was an open QB competition. Before the fanbase could pick sides between Perry and Williams, the coaching staff secured the transfer of former 5-star recruit and Ohio State QB Tate Martell. At different points during the spring, each of the 3 QB’s appeared to have the upperhand, leaving the pecking order still unclear headed into the summer.
What Williams has over the other two quarterbacks is a sturdier body, a quicker release and more consistent accuracy. While N’Kosi Perry’s calling cards are his cannon for an arm and ability to make plays with his feet, Williams doesn’t fall far behind Perry in either regard. Perry’s one true advantage is actual game experience, although his results were varied. Martell is truly dynamic as a runner and making plays with his arm outside of the pocket, but also lacks game experience like Williams. While much of the focus in this QB race has been between Perry and Martell, everyone should keep an eye on Jarren Williams, as he should have just as much of a chance to take the field under center against the Gators in Orlando.