Much like LeBron James before him, everyone is wondering what if. What if Zion played football.
According to ESPN.com’s Jeff Borzello, Texas State offensive line coach Eric Mateos said he made Williamson a scholarship offer while he was serving as LSU’s tight ends coach in 2016.
Mateos, now the offensive line coach at Texas State, was the tight ends coach at LSU in the fall of 2016 under then-interim head coach Ed Orgeron. It was right around the time Williamson was becoming more well-known, with his dunking exploits garnering millions of views on YouTube.
Once Mateos saw the highlights, he got Williamson’s phone number and reached out to offer him a scholarship to LSU.
Mateos, who said Orgeron likely didn’t even know about the offer, never heard back from Williamson.
“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],” Mateos said. “Coach O said go recruit the best athletes in the country, and that’s what I tried to do.”
Zion Williamson told ESPN earlier this year that playing football at the next level was never considered.
There are only a few football players who can even begin to compare to someone at 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds with Williamson’s leaping ability.
“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.”
Let Zion dominate the hardwood. Much safer than taking massive hits to the head. Of course at this point, you look at him, and see monster Tight End, but football players are just different.
