Former LSU assistant coach offered Duke's Zion Williamson a football scholarship

Scott Gleeson USA TODAY

Published 10:21 AM EST Nov 15, 2018

Duke freshman Zion Williamson has become college basketball's human highlight reel since the 2018-19 season tipped off, drawing comparisons to LeBron James and having his unique bowling ball-type physicality dissected and fawned over by analysts. 

As it turns out, Williamson's athleticism — and the potential that accompanies it — has garnered praise outside the gym — and on the gridiron. 

Former LSU tight end coach Eric Mateos told ESPN he offered Williamson a football scholarship with the Tigers in the fall of 2016 when he was working under then-interim head coach Ed Orgeron. At the time, Williamson was blossoming into a high school YouTube sensation for his jump-out-of-the-gym dunking antics on the hardwood. Only catch was his school, Spartanburg Day (S.C.), didn't have a football team. That didn't stop Mateos, though. 

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"Any time you have an athlete that can generate that much explosive power in a controlled manner, that's a level of elite that translates to a bunch of different football positions," said Mateos, now the offensive line coach at Texas State. 

"I thought, hell, why not, he's probably the best damn tight end to ever live. Honestly, I just thought it would be really fun and would be good exposure for LSU if we offered him for football. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to be too (interested). Coach O said go recruit the best athletes in the country, and that's what I tried to do."

Williamson is averaging 25.3 points and 10.7 rebounds in three games for the undefeated Blue Devils so far this season. Mateos said the 18-year-old's 6-7, 285-pound frame would easily help him excel on the football field. 

"If he's 285, you're talking a rare specimen, Julius Peppers-type of freak," Mateos said. "I used to think (Jadeveon) Clowney was the biggest freak I'd ever seen. Zion probably brings the same or better athleticism based off what I've seen."

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