BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Two defensive backs who played for Bradford and Union County high schools have found new homes in college, with former Tornado Jontez Williams transferring from Iowa State to USC and former Tiger Gavin Jenkins going from USF to Auburn.
Williams, a 2022 BHS graduate, was considered the best available defensive back in the portal. The redshirt junior entered the 2025 season as a Preseason All-Big 12 selection. He played in five games before a knee injury ended his season, recording 15 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups.
The 5-11, 200-pound corner was coming off a 2024 season in which he received second-team All-Big 12 and Associated Press All-Big 12 honors. Williams, in his first season as a starter, led the team in interceptions with four — all occurring in consecutive games. That made him the first Iowa State player since Ronnie Osborne in 1982 to record at least one interception in four straight games.
Williams also had 46 tackles in 2024, with a season-high 11 (six solo) in a 21-3 win over North Dakota on Aug. 31.
Jenkins, a 2025 UCHS graduate, is following Alex Golesh, who resigned as USF head coach to take the same position at Auburn. The 6-2, 180-pound corner saw limited action for the Bulls before redshirting. Jenkins recorded seven interceptions and 20-plus pass breakups in his sophomore, junior and senior seasons at UCHS.
