Brian Wright needed a kicker.

The one from the previous season had graduated, and the Cherry Hill West High School head coach was so desperate that he brought in a lacrosse player to try out.

He didn’t cut it.

But then Rodney Williams, the New Jersey high school’s starting quarterback and safety, walked over and told his coach he could do it.

“The first time he kicked an extra point, it probably would’ve been good from about 50 yards out,” Wright said. “He’s just an awesome athlete.

“He’s by far one of the best players in South Jersey and it’s a pretty talented area in terms of high school football.”

Williams, rated a three-star recruit by Scout, is one of Syracuse’s first verbal commitments in the Class of 2014. He is being recruited as a defensive back, SU’s second in the incoming group. Williams announced his verbal commitment to the Orange instead of Temple and Buffalo in June.

Not only is he Cherry Hill West’s starting quarterback, safety and placekicker, but Williams also occasionally lines up as a slot receiver and as a cornerback. He also returns kickoffs and punts for the Lions. For a player who was sidelined four weeks with a pulled hamstring a year ago, the idea of playing essentially every snap might not be so enticing, but the potential of re-injury doesn’t diminish how much the Lions like to utilize his versatility.

“I’ll do anything that I have to and more for my team,” Williams said. “Now that I’m healthy, I have coaches and players pushing me every day. I’m back to 100 percent now and I’m confident running full speed.

“I like having the ball in the open field. I think I’m a pretty decent weapon with the ball in my hands.”

Last season, Williams bounced back from his injury in grand style. In his second game back, the quarterback threw a touchdown pass, ran for two scores, caught a 47-yard touchdown and returned a punt 62 yards to the end zone.

Yet Wright’s favorite Williams highlight comes from a team practice at the end of last year.

Lined up at cornerback, Williams read a play that couldn’t have been much farther away from where he was. He broke off his coverage, sprinted across the field, jumped and perfectly timed a one-handed interception, keeping his feet in bounds.

“Everyone just sat there with their mouth wide open,” Wright said. “He just flipped the ball to my coach that was right there, went back and got ready for the next play like it was no big deal.”

Cherry Hill West defensive backs coach Tyree Jackson hasn’t seen many athletes quite like Williams.

He hadn’t ever seen a slot receiver facing double coverage take a slant 60 yards for a touchdown, before Williams. Jackson said he’s added an improved, more aggressive tackling technique to an already outstanding skill set.

The 5-foot-10 Williams said he expects to be a good fit with the Syracuse defense, especially in defensive back blitzes. Williams said he sets the edge well when he blitzes, and he’s confident his hands and footwork allow him to cover any receiver he’s paired against.

Williams reads offenses well, his coaches said. If a receiver is quick enough to pick up a few steps on him, Williams’ explosiveness allows him to catch up and make a play on the ball.

“He’s built like no one else,” Jackson said. “This past week, we played against the No. 1 receiver — supposedly — in the state.

“Shut him down.”

Timber Creek wide receiver Adonis Jennings, a four-star Rutgers commit, went into Friday’s matchup against the Lions with 23 receptions, 443 yards and six touchdowns to his name through just two games.

The Chargers steamrolled Cherry Hill West by 24 points, but Jennings, shadowed by Williams, finished with just two catches for a measly 10 yards.

Wright imagines Williams will have no less success when he joins the Orange next year.

“I’ll match him one-on-one with anyone in South Jersey, and he’s going to win,” Wright said. “The kid, to his credit, has worked his butt off to put himself in this position. He has a goal in mind, he’s prepared to make the sacrifices to accomplish those goals.”

Published on September 30, 2013 at 9:55 pm

Contact Phil: pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb