If Chad Morris and his coaching staff are going to reel in a recruiting class worthy of helping turn the Razorback program into a contender in the SEC West, it has to start at home in Arkansas. The Natural State has a handful of blue chip in-state prospects for the 2019 recruiting cycle and the first one just came off the board as the Razorbacks landed a commitment from Little Rock native Zach Williams.

Williams publicly announced his decision during an appearance on Arkansas radio program “Recruiting Thursday” with Richard Davenport of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Williams was joined by his father, former Arkansas linebacker Rickey L. Williams, on the program.

“For him to see all his options and to want to stay home and play for the Razorbacks, that was huge for me,” Rickey Williams said on the air.

“Everyone that knows me knows where I wanted (Zach) to go but I wanted him to go where he was most comfortable.”

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Williams is rated as a four-star prospect, the No. 5 overall recruit from Arkansas and the nation’s No. 24 weakside defensive end according to 247Sports Composite Rankings. He commits to the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from nearly every Power 5 program including the likes of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Tennessee and Vanderbilt out of the SEC.

Williams now has the distinction of being the highest-rated prospect to commit to Morris’ Arkansas program. His pledge gives the Razorbacks nine total commitments for the 2019 recruiting cycle and bumps up the class a full 10 spots in the team recruiting rankings — up to No. 48.

In his junior season for Joe T. Robinson High School, Williams made 70 tackles, 11 sacks and forced three fumbles. Check out the damage he can do on the football field by checking out his junior season highlight reel: