ORWELL — Grand Valley all-state running back JayAnthony Williams made his choice of his future place Monday in the school’s library.
The senior is planning to attend Lake Erie College to play football and study Sports Management in the fall.
He said he wanted to stay close to home and his mother, Baileigh Williams, was happy with that decision.
In the 2025 season, Williams was selected Division VI first-team all-Ohio at defensive back and earned the Northeast Lakes District Defensive Player of the Year.
He recorded six interceptions, including returning three for touchdowns.
On offense, Williams rushed for 670 yards with six TDs, and made 14 receptions for 414 and three scores. He averaged 30 yards per catch, and scored 90 points.
Williams started his high school career at St. Edward in Lakewood, played a year at Lakeside and finished his career at Grand Valley.
Williams said he is excited about playing with long-time friend Jaiven Pope, an Edgewood senior who also signed with Lake Erie College.
“I didn’t know until I saw him post,” Williams said.
Tony Williams said his son and Pope were very close as students at Huron Elementary School.
JayAnthony Williams said he will be coming in as a freshman with Luke Anzlovar, whom he played with at St. Edward.
Williams said he is excited about the coaching at the school that is in such close driving distance.
Tony Williams said he would have liked his son to consider going farther away to school, but does like the shorter drive to games.
He said it is exciting that both he and JayAnthony were born in Painesville.
Where JayAnthony Williams will play on the field has not been finalized.
Williams made it clear, however, that he is willing to play wherever they need him. He also said he is excited about the training table options in college to help get bigger and stronger.
“We are very proud of JayAnthony and we know he is going to be ready to do great things at Lake Erie,” Mustangs coach football coach Matt Rosati said.
GV Athletic Director Frank Hall said it is impressive anytime a student-athletge get to play college football, and to do so in a scholarship situation is even better.