Coach | 2023 Notre Dame RB Target Marquese Williams Has "Rare" Ability

Jeff Weachter knows what big-time talent at the running back position looks like and the head coach at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, Pa., says 2023 running back Marquese Williams‍ has it.

“He's obviously got great speed, but what makes him different from a lot of running backs is his ability to get in and out of a break to full speed,” Weachter says of Williams. “He has some rare ability there.

“There are only a few that I've ever seen do it. Fortunately, I coached one of them.”

Weachter is referring to LeSean McCoy, who played for him at Bishop McDevitt.

“I'm not saying he's Shady McCoy, but he has that rare ability that Shady had,” Weachter continues.

Notre Dame certainly agrees with Weachter’s assessment, which is why the Irish extended an offer to Williams on Wednesday.

“It's special to him,” Weachter says of Williams’ new offer.

Williams, who also has offers from schools like Penn State, Pitt, Syracuse, Michigan State, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and West Virginia among several others, had the chance to hear Irish assistant John McNulty’s thoughts on him during the spring and has been excited about Notre Dame ever since.

“Originally, there was talk about trying to get him there this spring to get an offer or the summer,” his coach says. “But both his parents own businesses, so it gets tough for them to get away, so he has not gone to very many places this summer and visited.

“But I'm sure they'll definitely get out there at some point, after the season or during the season to take look. He's really excited about this one.”

Weachter says Williams checks the boxes off the field.

“He's a good student,” the coach says. “He's a real good kid. Everybody on the team likes him. He just has a real good personality. He's starting to become a leader for our team also.”

From an on-the-field standpoint, Weachter expects Williams’ game to mature as his body does.

“He's right around between 180, 185,” Weachter says of the 5-foot-10 Williams. “He has room to grow. I wish I had this problem, sometimes kids don't eat the way they should and as much as they should.

“He has put on good weight, good solid weight with muscle. I think by the time he gets to college, he'll be between 200 and 205.”

Williams played at about 170 pounds last season.

“He’s put on about 15 pounds of muscle and has not lost any speed,” Weachter says.

“Obviously, I think when he gets to college and he gets on their program and gets on the training table and things like that, he'll be fine. Other than that, he doesn't really have too much to work on other than the obvious things.”