Malik Williams

247sports.com ranks Williams the 256th best recruit in California

Q: You were teammates with the late Wyoming recruit, Naphtali Moi Moi. What was it like playing with him and what did he mean to you?
A: We had a good friendship and it was great to have that competition on the field at practice. I was really looking forward to playing with him. Life goes on, I just have to make best of it.

Q: Why Wyoming?
A: Ever since my freshman year, I never really though I'd get a scholarship. Wyoming was the first one to offer me. They saw potential in me since my junior year, a whole year before they offered me. "Neff" made me want to go there even more. With him passing away, now, this is for sure the place I want to go to remember him even more, get an education, play football and hopefully move on to the next level after that.

Q: What position will you play in Laramie and what can fans expect you to bring to the table?
A: In high school, I played both sides of the ball. In college, they want me to play offensive tackle. Right or left tackle. I will give it everything I've got. I will give 100 percent until I can't work no more. Until I can't do anything, they will get my all.

Q: What other schools showed interest in you?
A: Dixie State, Utah, New Mexico State, Oregon State, San Jose State, UNLV and a couple other D2 schools came by. I can't name them off the top of my head. I'm not really interested in any schools anymore. I've been committed for a month or two now. San Diego State came in two weeks ago and still wanted to talk to me. I'm done with that process. I just need to make sure my grades are good before I go off to college.

Q: When did you visit and what are your thoughts on the facilities, coaching staff, players, fans?
A: The facilities are amazing. The weight room, the new pool added in and everything. One thing I forgot to ask the coaches was if there's a message therapist. That's the main thing I love. In my off time, I'll be getting a message and feeling right. The coaches, they really get you ready to play. And the fans, when I went there for the New Mexico game, the whole stadium was filled up. It's amazing how all the fans support the players even if they don't know them. (In California) the stadiums are not filled up all the time. Some games or special occasions they are, but out there, every game. There was nowhere to sit. That's really special.

Q: So you got to witness the infamous "beer snake?"
A: They built it all the way up. I've never seen anything like that. And a people walking around no shirts, in shorts, and one guy had a cape on. I thought, 'how is he out there doing this?' I had two jackets on, pants, gloves, I was freezing.

Q: What are your thoughts on the current UW team?
A: The team is really good right now. With all the injuries and everything, most teams are wondering how are they going to do this? The day I came out, they had a redshirt freshman playing right tackle. I was thinking, 'they are probably going to lose this game with the injuries and new players.' Then, every player that came in, they weren't losing nothing. The back-up is getting a start and played like he was the starter. He was ready to play. That's what I hope when I get in.

Q: What do you want Wyoming fans to know about you?  
A: When I come there, I'm going to give it my all. Let's go win a bowl game. 

Q: When will you be in Laramie?
A: I'll be there in June. As soon as I graduate they are giving me a week to do what I need to do. Then I'll get there and start classes.