Who is Zion Williams? All we know about 4-star LSU commit

Zion Williams, a standout defensive tackle from Lufkin, Texas, committed to the LSU Tigers on July 4th. The 6-foot-4, 330-pound lineman is a highly regarded recruit, ranked No. 174 in the ESPN 300 for the class of 2025. Additionally, Williams is considered the 20th-best defensive tackle in his class.

Williams' junior season stats are impressive, with 37 tackles, 5 tackles for loss (TFL), and 3 sacks, showcasing his consistent performance on the field. His breakout sophomore year saw him record 31 tackles, 4 TFL, and 3 sacks, cementing his reputation as a formidable defensive presence.

Besides playing football, Zion Williams is good at field and track games. In his third year, Williams demonstrated a shot routine of 46-8.75 and was able to record 40-7 in the shot put event and 95-3 in the discus throw in his first year, as narrated in MileSplit news.

The Texas native had several top programs vying for his commitment. Despite early interest from TCU and Texas, Williams chose LSU, making his decision after an official visit to Baton Rouge in late May.

Zion Williams' decision is a significant win for LSU, as the program continues to build on its successful 2023 season. His verbal pledge brings LSU's total commitments for the class of 2025 to 13. On3.com ranks LSU’s 2025 recruiting class as the fourth-best in the nation, trailing Ohio State, Alabama, and Georgia.

Zion Williams' commitment: A major win for LSU

Zion Williams is a significant addition to LSU’s defensive line coach Bo Davis. Williams chose LSU over Texas, Texas A&M, and other top programs. Davis, who joined LSU from Austin, hosted Williams multiple times in 2024. The relationship between Davis and Williams began when Davis was at UT.

“Coach Bo and I have been talking since his time at UT,” Williams told On3’s Justin Wells. “He knows me well as a person. LSU feels like the parts of my town where I grew up. It’s been fun down there so far.”

Zion Williams cited Davis' genuine care for his future as a major factor in his decision.

“Coach Bo had my best intentions and wants to get me to a position where I can support a family when I have one,” he said. “It meant a lot to me when he said that he thinks I have 3-year potential, but I’ll get a degree before I leave.”

LSU head coach Brian Kelly also made a strong impression by visiting Williams at Lufkin High in January.

“I never thought a head coach would come to talk to me. That’s a wild feeling,” Williams said. “Coach Kelly is genuine and answered all my questions. It showed me a lot about his character and his desire to develop his players.”

Zion Williams is ranked as the No. 366 overall player, No. 31 defensive lineman, and No. 54 prospect in Texas according to the On3 Industry Ranking. He will hope to live up to his famous namesake, the New Orleans Pelicans forward.