The months of speculation concerning the future of Benedictine tailback Raymond Williams came to an end Tuesday when the 5-11, 185-pounder signed a national letter of intent with West Virginia.
"I know he's glad he's signed and this whole thing is over because I'm glad it's over, too," Benedictine coach Art Bortnick said. "The decision to go to West Virginia came from Raymond Williams and nobody else."
Williams' decision came after speculation that the Cleveland resident was destined to go to Ohio State.
"Raymond received national letters of intent from almost every major college except Ohio State," Bortnick said. "He narrowed his choices to Nebraska and West Virginia because both schools came after him early, came after him hard and stayed after him.
"I think the [travel] distance between Cleveland and Nebraska kind of scared him off."
Williams' only visit was to WVU.
"Raymond liked it there and I really think he's going there in honor of his late grandfather," Bortnick said. "His grandfather grew up in Morgantown [W.Va.] and he was very close to his grandfather."
Williams gave every major college program a number of reasons to seek his services.
The All-Ohio choice will graduate as the Bengals' all-time leading rusher with 7,045 yards, touchdown-maker with 89 and scorer with 538 points. The 40 touchdowns Williams scored this season in leading the Bengals to the Division III state crown are a single-season record at the school, and the 3,250 yards he gained as a junior are a school record.
Williams was named Ohio's Mr. Football and was a member of the Parade All-American Team this season. Williams also is a two-time Offensive Player of the Year on The Plain Dealer's Best of the Best and All-Cuyahoga County All-Star Teams.
"Raymond was recruited as a running back and the spread offense West Virginia plays will also allow him to come out of the backfield and catch passes," Bortnick said.
However, since his ACT score and grade-point average are not finalized, Bortnick admitted Williams could be a Proposition 48 victim next season.
"Is there still an outside chance he could play next year?" Bortnick said. "Sure, but if he doesn't meet the [academic] standards, he'll be a Prop 48.
"Regardless of what happens, I still feel Ray made the right decision."