Wisconsin's top-rated player in their 2027 recruiting class is 4-star Mekhi Williams. He's also the best safety in the state of Florida and has had offers from all the major programs. He was an important flip for Luke Fickell during the last months of visits from Florida State to the Wisconsin Badgers. He's now going viral for a play he made recently. A one-handed interception posted from a backfield view camera.
It's not just the interception that's impressive; it's the fact that Williams is playing his coverage perfectly as a safety, taking the receiver over the middle until he locates the ball in the air. He then makes a play towards a new receiver to intercept the ball. Now, NFL stars are noticing and shouting him out. The first star was a former elite safety in college and the NFL, Tyrann Mathieu.
Mathieu quote-tweeted the clip from Williams' social media with the line "That's an elite rep!" Mathieu knows a lot about elite reps at safety and knows how hard it is to play the right coverage, cover the first man in space, locate the ball in the air, and take it from a different receiver. Watch the clip below and Mathieu's response.
That’s an Elite rep !!! https://t.co/UTD2PRh2CE
— Tyrann Mathieu (@Mathieu_Era) June 19, 2026
Tyrann Mathieu and Derek Carr both notice how impressive of a play Williams made in viral clip
The second player who picked up on this clip was star quarterback Derek Carr. Mathieu knows what it's like to be the safety in these coverages, but Carr knows it's like trying to fit a ball in on an elite NFL safety. He even gave a strong suggestion that Williams is headed towards the NFL with plays like this.
Carr posted the clip on its own and said, "From a QB perspective...this is actually insane. Playing on Sunday's type feel." That's high praise from a quarterback who has thrown for over 40,000 yards and 250+ touchdowns. He's not just blindly stating how great this is; he knows exactly what elite safeties look like. He can't believe that Williams is doing this at 16 years old.
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From a QB perspective... this is actually insane. Playing on Sunday's type feel pic.twitter.com/ymqTOiJupD
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) June 19, 2026
Williams is Wisconsin's top-rated recruit, and he has recently shut down his recruitment. This was received with high praise from Badger fans. Yet, until he signs in December, Wisconsin fans will be wringing their hands and stressing about keeping him. Wisconsin has been burned plenty of times by top-rated players. Last year alone, Wisconsin lost a 4-star running back and a 4-star wide receiver just weeks/days before National Signing Day.
He's clearly good enough for other programs to want to steal, and plays like this may make fans more nervous than excited, knowing this exact reality.
This time, though, Williams seems to be all in on Wisconsin and wants to be part of the future of the program. For now, we have to take him at his word and get excited for plays like this. And then even more excited when he signs, and thrilled when he shows up in Madison for spring ball.
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