Libertyville’s Reid Williams emerges from twin brother Brock’s shadow to become leader: ‘It never stopped him’

Four-star recruits are few and far between, and Libertyville has one with senior tight end Brock Williams, a Texas recruit who has raised the program’s profile and been one of the state’s best offensive players.

The strength of the team is its gritty defense, however, and one of the unit’s leaders is senior safety Reid Williams, Brock’s twin brother. The North Suburban Conference champion Wildcats have allowed just 10.5 points per game, and the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Reid Williams has been at the forefront of that effort.

“I know the whole defense, and I think that’s really valuable,” he said. “As a safety, you need to know what everyone is doing and how all the pieces fit together.

“Last year, I was still learning. But this year, I’m telling everyone what they need to know and how to fix things that go wrong.”

Reid Williams’ play in the secondary has been crucial for the fourth-seeded Wildcats (8-2), who will play 12th-seeded Notre Dame Prep (7-4) at home in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday. He has 28 tackles, 2 1/2 for loss, a team-high three interceptions and a forced fumble.

But Reid Williams’ knowledge of the defense has made him invaluable. He has experience on all three levels of the unit, having been a defensive lineman as a freshman and an outside linebacker as a sophomore. He moved to safety in longtime assistant Tim Budge’s first season as head coach last year.

“Last year, coach Budge would always tell me that I’m leading the defense,” Reid Williams said. “He said I had to be verbal and be that kind of guy to be there for teammates when they come to ask questions.”

Reid Williams took that guidance to heart.

“I don’t think I’d be the player I am today without him,” Libertyville senior safety Luca Kalinowski said. “There have been lots of times where coaches give us a call and I’m not totally sure what to do. He’ll look to my side for like a second and tells me the coverage. He always has my back.”

Kalinowski also vividly remembers the first of Reid Williams’ interceptions this season. It came during the Wildcats’ season-opening loss to Geneva, which is ranked No. 8 in the Chicago Tribune Top 25. Trying to shadow Illinois recruit Bennett Konkey, Reid Williams swooped in and snatched the ball out of the air.

“Knowing where I’m supposed to be and recognizing what’s happening in front of me, like what gaps people are fitting into, allows me to play faster and with more physicality,” he said.

What Reid Williams put on film after last season was enough to attract attention from various colleges. He visited Northwestern, received texts from Utah and received an offer in March from Kentucky, where older brother Drew is a senior.

But there was a wrinkle in the recruiting process. Brock Williams is one of the most coveted prospects nationally in the 2027 class and received offers from a who’s who of national powers.

In the lead-up to Brock Williams’ final decision, which ended with his commitment in May, Texas also offered a full ride to Reid Williams.

“I was trying to get on my own way, but when they offered that to me, I said that I’m 100% taking that,” Reid Williams said. “Brock deserves all of the attention he’s gotten because he’s an incredible player. I’ve always been there to support him, and we’ve always wanted to be together. So it worked out perfectly.”

Reid Williams, who first came to the conclusion last season that he has what it takes to play in college, liked being under the radar.

“I’ll get my chance to prove myself, and I’m all good with being hidden a little bit,” he said. “I don’t have all that pressure on me to do great things right away. I can be my own self.”

Brock Williams understands the unique dynamic.

“Obviously, I’ve gotten a ton of attention over the last couple of years, and some brothers would let that get them down or make them jealous,” he said. “He wasn’t like that, and it never stopped him from always working hard on his own and making himself better.”

Reid Williams’ dedication has paid dividends.

“He had a decent year last year, but this year he is the leader on the defense,” Brock Williams said. “When people don’t know something, they come to him, and when I see him playing at such a high level, it makes me super happy.”

Reid Williams is happy to have such an important role for the Wildcats, who have won eight games in a row.

“For us, it comes down to defense, and I love how we all play together,” he said. “It’s like a brotherhood out there.”

Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.