Louisville football: Cards latest offer will make you feel really old

Louisville football’s latest offer in the class of 2021 has a familiar name and without question will make you feel old.

The Louisville football staff have been quite busy over the last few weeks as they’ve traveled the country looking for the next crop of talent in the class of 2021. After signing a monster class during the Early Signing Period, Louisville’s staff has used this recruiting time to get a jump start on the class of ’21 while keeping an eye open on talent for next year’s team if it where to come available.

While it doesn’t look like anyone will sign with the Cardinals today (National Signing Day) there still has been quite a bit of news about the future of the program and who could one day suit up for the Cards.

In fact, one of the Cards latest offers has quite an interesting story.

It’s been 11 years since the infamous Terrence Williams aka T-Will roamed the University of Louisville campus wearing the red and black for the Louisville basketball program.

During his time as a star for the Louisville program, Williams became one of the most well-known, and controversial athletes to ever play for Rick Pitino. His ability to make things happen on the floor, especially with the ball in his hands, is what made him a special player and still to this day one of the best to ever do it at Louisville.

After leaving the Ville, things didn’t necessarily work out for Williams when it came to his professional career. Due to off the court issues, Williams bounced around the NBA never able to find solid footing, playing for the New Jersey Nets, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, as well as spending time in Turkey, Venezuela, Mexico, as well as the NBA’s Developmental League.

It had been quite some time since we heard anything from Williams in relation to what he’s up to since his playing days. Now retired from basketball, Williams spends his days parenting – something that many of us can relate to. However, where Williams and parents like myself differ is my son isn’t the latest to receive a scholarship offer from the University of Louisville coaching staff.

Ready to feel old?

That would belong to Jaraye Williams, a three-star athlete out of Burien, Washington, not far from his father’s old stomping grounds of Seattle who was the latest recruit from the 2021 to receive a scholarship offer from Scott Satterfield and the Louisville football staff. Yes, you read that right. The SON of former Louisville basketball star Terrence Williams.

Offered as a linebacker, Williams is an athletic freak of nature much like his father was years ago coming out of his high school. While he’s chosen to play football at the next level, Williams remembers watching his dad play for Louisville never one day expecting that to be an option for him.

“Getting that offer from the college my dad went to really meant something special. It really means a lot to me and shows me I’m on the right path,” Williams said in an interview with Brandon Huffman of 247 Sports.

Along with an offer from Louisville, Williams has several offers from prestigious power five programs with more to come this summer and fall as he enters his senior season. His offers include Arizona State, Boise State, Nebraska, and even USC. At 6’3, 197-pounds, Williams has great size for his position and even better speed. Projected as an outside linebacker, his highlights show just how natural of a playmaker he is.

While it’s still way too early to tell if Williams will end up as a Louisville Cardinal, there is definitely interest not only from the junior linebacker but from his father and alumnus.

"“I got the offer from Coach Dennison and he reminded me on how much I love Louisville. My dad was more excited than I was…I’m definitely going out there in March. As a kid, I went to Louisville to watch my dad play but those were the only times. So I can’t wait to go back.”"

To my knowledge, there hasn’t been much of a relationship between Terrence Williams and the University in quite some time (for probably good reason) but with his son looking like a power five prospect, now is as good as time as ever for that to change.

Williams went on to tell Brandon Huffman of 247 Sports about his offer to Louisville,

"“I didn’t think he knew Louisville was going to offer me, so he never talked about me going there,” said Williams. But after Saturday, though, when they did offer, he started joking with me about committing there now.”"

Williams would be quite the addition at linebacker for the staff, following his breakout season that saw him record 30 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass deflections, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

There’s still plenty of time for this story to play out, but the thought of Terrence Williams having a son old enough to play college football for Louisville absolutely blew my freaking mind. Here’s to hoping he follows in Dad’s footsteps.