{"id":869467,"date":"2026-04-18T22:18:36","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T22:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869467\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T22:18:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T22:18:36","slug":"ohio-state-lands-a-commitment-from-duquesnes-jimmie-williams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/869467\/","title":{"rendered":"Ohio State lands a commitment from Duquesne’s Jimmie Williams"},"content":{"rendered":"

After adding guard Justin Pippen<\/a> and big man Andrija Jelavic<\/a> from the transfer portal last week, Ohio State<\/a> was still in search of another wing player. The Buckeyes found their player.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, shortly after head coach Jake Diebler<\/a> and his staff showed Ohio Stadium to their new players for the spring game, the Scarlet and Gray secured another crucial commitment from the 2026 transfer portal window, landing a pledge from former Duquesne<\/a> standout and Ohio native Jimmie Williams<\/a>. The 6-foot-5 shooting guard is bringing his talents to Columbus, giving head coach Diebler an experienced, dynamic perimeter weapon for the 2026-2027 season.<\/p>\n

A three-star prospect in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings, Williams’s decision to return home to the Buckeye State provides a major boost to an already reloaded Ohio State backcourt. He will complement Williams and John Mobley Jr.<\/a>, assuming Mobley returns after testing the NBA waters, and provide options as talented freshman Anthony Thompson settles into his first college season.<\/p>\n

Ohio State’s 2026 college football is still months away, but preparation has already begun. Spring practice is underway, and plenty of news will come about next year’s Buckeyes. Ohio State basketball made it back to the NCAA Tournament, but lost in the first round, setting up an important offseason. It’s the busiest time of year for Ohio State. Stay on top of the latest Buckeye news by BECOMING A BUCKNUTS SUBSCRIBER today!<\/a><\/p>\n

Williams’s collegiate journey has been a story of continuous growth, resilience, and proving himself at every level. Originally from Solon, Ohio, the talented guard began his college career at Wallace State in Alabama<\/a>, a junior college, where he quickly earned a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American honor. He parlayed that success into a Division I opportunity at South Florida<\/a>, where he carved out a role and averaged 7.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.<\/p>\n

Seeking an opportunity to showcase his true potential as a primary option, Williams entered the portal and transferred to Duquesne before his junior campaign \u2014 a decision that paid off.<\/p>\n

During the 2025-2026 season, Williams burst onto the scene as a talented scorer. Starting all 31 games for the Dukes, Williams became the engine of the offense. He averaged a team-leading 15.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game. He posted a double-figure scoring streak spanning 20 consecutive games. Shooting 46.3 percent from the field and an impressive 33.9 percent from three-point range, he ultimately earned Third Team All-Atlantic 10 honors.<\/p>\n

The hope is that Williams will be a seamless fit for Diebler’s aggressive, up-tempo system, offering a crucial blend of scoring punch, floor spacing and secondary playmaking. As a shot creator, Williams is a confident threat who excels at shooting off the catch and creating for himself, never shying away from taking the big shot. Beyond his shooting, Williams’ 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame gives him the positional size to defend multiple perimeter spots in the physically demanding Big Ten.<\/p>\n

Williams’ commitment aligns with Ohio State’s offseason strategy. With his shooting ability and size, Williams should be a perfect complement to Pippen’s downhill athleticism and Mobley’s off-guard talents.<\/p>\n

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By adding Williams, the Buckeyes are getting a battle-tested, highly motivated veteran guard with Ohio roots. After proving he can be the focal point of an offense at Duquesne, Williams now heads to Columbus to prove he can elevate a Big Ten program and help the Scarlet and Gray into consistent NCAA Tournament contention.<\/p>\n