One of the top safeties in the 2027 recruiting class is set to make his college decision, as four-star defensive back Gavin Williams has announced he will commit on Sunday, May 17. Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds, Williams plays for Damien High School in Southern California and is ranked as the nation’s No. 86 overall prospect and No. 6 safety, according to Rivals. He will choose between Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, and Washington.
All four programs have scheduled official visits over the next two months, but Williams decided to reveal his commitment before any additional trips. During his three seasons at Damien, he has racked up 148 total tackles, 13 pass breakups, 11 interceptions, and 10 tackles for loss, establishing himself as one of California’s top defensive players and drawing interest from at least 40 schools.
Like Washington sophomore cornerback Dylan Robinson, Williams has also excelled as a wide receiver for Damien. However, it is widely expected that he will remain on defense at the college level.
With the Huskies set to lose senior safety Alex McLaughlin after the upcoming season, safeties coach Taylor Mays and secondary coach John Richardson will need to develop the next man up. Williams could compete for playing time alongside sophomore Rylon Dillard-Allen and freshman Gavin Day, both of whom are expected to see significant snaps under second-year defensive coordinator Ryan Walters this fall.
Although 247Sports’ crystal ball currently favors USC, and recent rumors have pointed toward the Trojans, Williams’ long-standing relationship with Washington’s coaching staff—particularly safeties coach Taylor Mays—along with the possibility of early playing time could give Jedd Fisch’s squad a strong long-term advantage.
