Williams ready to compete for starting spot in 2025

By Hunt Palmer

(*The quotes in this story are taken from Ory Williams’ Tuesday interview with Matt Moscona on 104.5 ESPN Baton Rouge)

When Brad Davis’s offensive line takes its first rep of August, all five starters from 2024’s unit may be displaced.

Four are off to NFL training camps as draft picks, and center DJ Chester may move to guard.

Redshirt freshman Ory Williams is eying one of those open spots.

“Everybody is going for a starting job right now,” Williams told Matt Moscona on After Further Review. “We’ve got a young line. We’ve got a young group, so no job is secure right now. I’ve got to step into my role. I didn’t come here to sit on the bench. I came here to play. I’m trying to outwork everybody.”

Williams only played in one game as a true freshman a season ago. The 6-foot-8 tower of a man was green with experience and had low expectations set about his playing time in year one.

“During my recruiting process, Coach Davis told me he wasn’t going to throw me in that water because we’ve got veterans ahead of me,” Williams said. “I don’t have much experience. It wasn’t hard considering Coach Davis kept it real with me and told me that I’m not going to be able to play much because he wants me to learn the offense so that when I do play it doesn’t look sloppy. It was a hit to the heart because you’ve got to take it on the chin and learn.”

Learn, Williams did.

The four drafted offensive linemen—Will Campbell, Garrett Dellinger, Miles Frazier and Emery Jones—led the way for the group affectionately referred to as The Bomb Squad.

That quartet essentially started three years together and formed one of the most accomplished units in school history. It was up to Williams and the other decorated recruits to soak in as much as possible from them.

“When I came in, the offensive line preaches “Bomb Squad”, and that means something more than football,” Williams said. “It’s hard work. It’s grit. It’s never giving up on your brother. I got you. You go me…You’ve got to bite down on your mouthpiece and go. Emery Jones, he’s a tough MFer. I learned toughness and grit. That’s what you’ve got to have.”

In addition to learning the college lifestyle and the LSU offense, Williams had to learn a new position. Because of his height and length, Williams had always played tackle as a prep standout.

Davis saw something in the former four-star recruit that indicated a move inside might work out.

“I played majority at guard in spring,” Williams said. “I kind of adjusted to it in spring. I like it more now. I’m not going to lie. But if I need to play tackle, I can. It’s good to be good at both.”

Williams mentioned getting tips from Frazier on the move. Frazier played tackle at Florida International before starring at guard for LSU.

“One thing I learned from Miles Frazier, you’ve just got to be physical,” Williams said. “Coming up with them since this last June I got beat on. It’s time for me to beat on them.”

LSU ranked dead last in the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards per game and 11^th in rushing touchdowns last year.

Throughout the spring, LSU repped the running game. Creativity was a focal point, but that physicality has to lead the way.

“It’s been a main focus for us,” Williams said of the ground game. “That’s the big thing we harp on is running the ball. We’re a run the ball first offense. That’s what Coach Kelly harps on, ‘we run through the o-line.’ If we’re not moving the ball and creating a new line of scrimmage, what can we do?”

Very little.

Williams joins a group of heralded recruits blended with a pair of potential transfer starters in competition for the five first-team spots. Talent is not in short supply. SEC experience very much is.

Asked for a potential standout, Williams didn’t waste any time responding.

“Carius Curne, he’s an athlete all around,” Williams said. “He’s a dude. He’s strong as ever, and he just comes in with the right mindset, and that’s coming in everyday ready to work. He can definitely move some people off the ball. He’s a freak of nature.”

Davis’s job is to mold the collection of talent into a cohesive unit. Williams has nothing but confidence in his position coach.

“The things people see on the internet, him ripping us and all that, yeah, that’s part of his job,” Willaims said. “He’s a great coach. He’s there to listen. He’s there to help. All around, he knows a lot. He’s very knowledgeable, and I’m glad to be playing under him.”