Williams first attended Bolingbrook High School in Illinois, where he won the starting quarterback job as a freshman in 2022 and threw for 2,737 yards and 37 touchdowns.[2] He then threw for 3,196 yards and 33 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2023.[3] He transferred to Lincoln-Way East High School as a junior in 2024 and led the team to a record of 12–1 while throwing for 2,926 yards and 42 touchdowns, being named all-conference, all-state, and the Illinois Player of the Year by the Champaign News-Gazette.[4] Prior to his senior year, Williams participated at the Elite 11 competition.[5] He threw for 2,488 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior in 2025, setting state records for career passing yards (11,347) and touchdowns (147).[6] He was named the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year for his performance.[7]
A four-star recruit, Williams was ranked a top-10 quarterback prospect nationally and a top-120 player overall in the class of 2026.[8] He initially committed to play college football for the Oregon Ducks in August 2024.[9] He later flipped his commitment to the USC Trojans in February 2025 and signed with the Trojans in December 2025.[10][11]