Alabama Football: Jonah Williams is an offensive lineman with an attitude

Who will lead the Alabama football 2017 offensive line? Jonah Williams plays tackle with a ferocious attitude to maul opponents.

There are two types of leaders among offensive lineman. There is the tough but composed leader who calls out blocking assignments. For Alabama football, that guy is Brad Bozeman.

Then there is the Alpha. The guy you run behind when you must gain two yards. The guy with the most power and ferociousness in the group, who mauls opponents for the sheer joy of it. For Alabama football, that guy is Jonah Williams.

Alabama football has a history of offensive line Alphas. Arguably John Hannah was the most alpha of them all. Before Hannah became one of the greatest guards to play NFL football, he terrorized the SEC. Teammates said the greatest injury risk they faced on gameday was getting too close to Hannah in the pre-game locker room.

Alpha football players are not evil but they play with a mean streak. They maul opponents with obvious malice. Jonah Williams is the latest in a long line of Alabama football offensive line Alphas.

Jonah Williams was a 5-Star USA Today All-American coming out of Folsom High School, just east of Sacramento, CA. In 2016 Williams was named to the All-SEC Freshman team and the Freshman All-American teams named by ESPN and USA Today.

His success for Alabama football was no surprise to Folsom High School coaches. Joe Davidson writing for the Sacramento Bee reported

"(Jonah) mauled opponents with relentless ferocity, sometimes in practice. And often to the point the coaches would halt drills, tap Williams on the shoulder pads and remind, “Jonah, these are our guys. You’re killing them!”"

Davidson also wrote that Williams began preparing for a transition to left tackle last season.

"“I would go out on the field after practice with Ross Pierschbacher and my buddies and play the left tackle spot, getting used to it, getting a feel for it. I tried to eat and write with my left hand, get a little ambidextrous. It was smooth for me. It wasn’t a big shock.”"

Jonah Williams may not be the best offensive lineman in the SEC in 2017, but he will be one of the best in the nation.  Seniors Frank Ragnow at Arkansas and Braden Smith at Auburn will be preseason All-Americans. Jonah Williams will not be far behind.

Athlon Sports has already named its preseason All-American team. Ragnow and Smith are first team, Jonah Williams is second team.

Next: 30 Great Crimson Tiders who were 3-Star Recruits

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