UAB Lands the Commitment of Defensive Linemen Jamell Garcia-Williams and Fish McWilliams

UAB gained two major commitments this week that should help solidify their defensive line in the coming seasons. With one commitment coming from the JUCO ranks for the 2017 class and a high school athlete in the Blazers’ 2018 class, the Blazers are adding both future and present help.

Jamell Garcia-Williams will certainly catch eyes thanks to his 6’8” height. The JUCO product announced his transfer to UAB on Twitter this week after signing with the Blazers. He’ll be eligible to play immediately and will have three years to play two seasons if UAB elects to redshirt him for the 2017 season.

Garcia-Williams didn’t have any other reported Division I offers but his length makes him a worthwhile project as an edge defender. If he’s able to quicken up his feet and add strength at the point of contact he could emerge as a frightening pass rusher for the Blazers. Per 247 Sports, Garcia-Williams committed to the Blazers without taking a visit to Birmingham.

UAB’s second defensive line commitment this week came from West Florida High School’s Adadrius “Fish” McWilliams. Standing at 6’1”, 284 pounds, McWilliams projects as a 3-4 defensive end or an undersized defensive tackle in a four man front. The “Big Fish” announced his commitment to UAB on Twitter following a strong showing at the Blazers’ summer camp on Thursday.

The third member of UAB’s 2018 recruiting class, McWilliams represents a major recruiting victory for the rebuilding Blazers. While McWilliams is unranked by recruiting services, he enjoyed double-digit scholarship offers from G5 programs such as Appalachian State, Tulane, and Florida Atlantic, all key recruiting opponents for UAB.

While standing at just 6’1”, McWilliams is an impressive pass rusher thanks to his active hands at the line of scrimmage and his strong motor in pursuit. McWilliams will have the option to either sign with the Blazers during the early signing period this December or wait to make his decision final on National Signing Day on February 28th, 2018.

McWilliams explained his interest in UAB during an interview with AL.com.

"I watched the spring game on YouTube and I said that's going to be a pretty good team," McWilliams said. "I asked my head coach if he had been in contact with UAB coaches because I'd like to go there because it seems like a pretty nice team and a pretty nice city.

"After that, all of the UAB coaches started following me on Twitter and coach (Jeremy) Hawkins and coach (Brian) Williams started hitting me up on Twitter and we went from there."