‘I’m just waiting on my opportunity’

LARAMIE – Standing on the sideline with a headset on through the first eight games of his college career, Levi Williams admits that he daydreams a bit.

He pictures himself under center, barking out calls, staring
down middle linebackers and making the right read.

Now, he’s just one play away from having those dreams become
a reality.

“I’m just waiting on my opportunity,” the true freshman from Canyon Lake, Texas, said. “When I get it, I’m taking it and not looking back.”

Sound confident? Well, he is.

Williams was ranked the fifth best pro-style quarterback in
the state of Texas after his senior season at Smithson Valley High School. Standing
6-feet, 5-inches and 208 pounds, Williams can be a bruising runner or a
powerful passer.

Want proof?

He threw for 3,239 passing yards and 32 touchdowns during
his final prep season of 6A football, the largest classification in the Lone
Star State. He registered 1,230 rushing yards and tacked on 16 more touchdowns
on the ground.

After a few taps on a calculator, that’s 4,469 yards of
total offense and 48 scores. No wonder Oklahoma State, TCU and Baylor were
beating down his door. Ultimately, the three-star signal caller chose the
University of Houston. There, he knew he would redshirt. He was also told he
had a future under center for the Cougars.

That all changed when Dana Holgorsen was hired by the school on New Year’s Day.

“I had an interview with him and it didn’t go well,” Williams said. “Plus, he brought in his son who is a quarterback.”

Williams was essentially a free agent again. He called OSU,
TCU and Baylor. They had already filled their allotment of scholarships. One
team that has showed interest throughout, Wyoming, was still more than happy to
offer him a full ride.

He felt wanted. He liked Laramie. He knew the staff had
coached a pair of quarterbacks who are now applying their trade in the NFL.

“Yeah, him and Carson Wentz,” Williams smiled, taking about how Josh Allen did play a part in his decision. “The fact they were coached by the same guy was big. They are two great quarterbacks who made it. That’s my ultimate goal.”

Redshirting this season, admittedly, hasn’t been easy for
Williams. He is used to being the field general, leading his team into battle. Now,
his highlight each week is going against the Cowboys No. 1 defense on the scout
team.

That’s not as bad as it sounds. Williams said he is gaining valuable experience every day facing the likes of Tyler Hall, Alijah Halliburton and Logan Wilson.

“You always try and compete the first year to play,” he
said. “It’s tough to watch, but I’ve grown a lot. From the senior year of high
school to now, I’m more focused on squeezing the ball into tight windows. I’m
throwing the best I ever have.

“If I get thrown into the mix, I think I’d do pretty well.”

That opportunity might come sooner rather than later.

Wyoming’s starting quarterback, Sean Chambers, was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury against Nevada. Tyler Vander Waal, who started nine games under center for the Pokes in 2018, will get the start this Saturday night in Boise.

Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl was asked about Williams at his weekly press conference. He is eligible to play in these last four regular season games without losing his redshirt, per NCAA rules.

"I don't have a crystal ball, but he is certainly moving up the depth chart," Bohl said of Williams. "We got a waiver and he's here. We love to have him, he's a young freshman. He does some really good things -- he still does some freshman mistakes though. we will see how this week of practice goes."

Bohl says his staff is committed to Vander Waal down the stretch, though they have been impressed with Williams and say he's been getting "quality reps" the past two weeks without Chambers in the mix. As Williams has witnessed already, one hit could have him entering his first collegiate game.

“There are a lot of freshman guys on the team, who are just
waiting for an opportunity to take over and not look back,” he said.

Does he think he will play in these last four weeks?

“I don’t know, we will see,” Williams said. “If I do, I’m going to take it and run with it.”