And here we had thought that (thankfully) the recruiting drama for the Class of 2013 was in the rearview mirror.
Edward Williams, a three-star linebacker from New Orleans, had every intention of signing with Texas Tech early last month. The only problem with that? A signature from a parent or guardian is required because Williams is under the age of 18 and his mother did not want him to attend the school in Lubbock, preferring her son stay closer to home and attend Tulane.
“Right now things have been shaky, because my mother does not want me to go to Texas Tech,” Williams told PelicanPreps.com Feb. 21. “She has her reasons, but I still prefer to be in Lubbock. She really wants me to go to Tulane, but I do not like it there. So it has to be where I am happy.”
Williams, though, stated the same day that “I am going to Texas Tech, I have my heart set on them. ... I like everything about it. I can see myself playing there.”
The mother, however, couldn’t.
One workaround for Williams would’ve been to wait until he turned 18 in June and sign a financial aid agreement with the Red Raiders, which would not have required his mom’s Herbie Hancock. In fact, that was reportedly his intention as of a week ago; in the end, however, mom “won” as Williams, PelicanSports.com reports, signed his National Letter of Intent and turned his paperwork into Tulane late this past week on a visit to the school in his home state.
On National Signing Day Feb. 6, Williams had stated his top three choices were Miami, Oregon State, and Texas Tech, with the latter serving as the front-runner heading into signing day. The mother, Rose Williams, claims that the choice was her son’s to make.
“My son made the decision last night and we discussed it as a family”, said Mrs. Williams. “I always felt Tulane was the best option for my son, but he had to choose where he wanted to go. Him and his father (Edward Williams IV) went to Tulane and signed early this morning.”
“Tulane just made me feel more comfortable with what they have to offer academic wise. Edward took notice to the same thing and he decided to stay home.”
Williams had originally committed to Texas A&M in June of last year before reopening his recruitment in late January, just a couple of weeks before signing day.
(Tip O’ the Cap: Dallas Morning News)