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The University of Utah Athletics
Troy Williams: Three Stop Tour
9/26/2017 8:34 AM | Football
By Chalis Benda
Utah Athletics Communications
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Troy Williams did not envision playing for three teams during his college football career.
Coming out of Narbonne High School, the two-time CIF Los Angeles City Section Division I Player of the Year and honorable mention Parade All-American had scholarship offers from schools all over the country, including Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia Tech, and the majority of the Pac-12 schools. The list goes on and on. Ultimately, the University of Washington stood above the rest for the 6-foot-2 senior.
"[Washington] was a good fit with Coach (Steve) Sarkisian," Williams said. "I fell in love with his system. It was a lot of L.A. guys and Narbonne guys, in particular. I knew about three or four of them up there. I looked up to those guys my freshman year, just hanging out with them and being on the field. Coach Sark is also a Southern California guy so I fell in love with him. Just being up there with the guys really made me feel like I was at home."
Williams redshirted under Sarkisian in 2013, but their time together was cut short when Sarkisian left UW to become the head coach at USC. Williams started one game for the Huskies under new head coach Chris Peterson in 2014; however, Williams never felt the same connection with Peterson as he had with Sarkisian and decided early on that year he was intent on finding a fresh start at another school.
Williams transferred to Santa Monica College in 2015, throwing for 2,750 yards and 31 touchdowns with just four interceptions. While he excelled on the field and did what he needed to do to give himself a chance to move on to another NCAA Division I program, but he struggled with the move to the junior college level.
"It was hard leaving my brothers up in Seattle," Williams explained. "I had a big bond with those guys. That was the first group of guys that I really lived with. It was hard leaving them but it was the best decision for me and they understood that. Just going there (Santa Monica College) and going through the whole JUCO process opened my eyes and showed me how lucky I was to be in a D-I program."
During his time at Santa Monica, Williams' mother, Kimberly, was diagnosed with cancer. She struggled just to survive at first but eventually beat the disease. However, that period of his life made Williams work harder every day to make his mom proud.
Williams took his unofficial visit to Utah in the summer of 2015 and received a scholarship offer midway through the following season at Santa Monica. He committed to the Utes immediately and joined them for spring practice in 2016. He was named the starter in fall camp and later voted a team captain.
"I couldn't wait to get here," Williams said. "It was great getting back to Division I, the whole big-time environment and everything like that. I didn't mind moving at all. It was a great move. I have been enjoying it since I got here."
In his first season as a Ute, Williams started all 13 games and completed 207-of-390 pass attempts (53.1%) for 2,757 yards and 15 touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the Pac-12 in passing yards.
This season, Williams is listed at the backup to sophomore Tyler Huntley. However, Williams' experience has made him both an experienced backup at one of the most important positions on the team and a valuable mentor to Huntley. The two have been roommates on road trips and have become "best of friends" according to Huntley since they joined the team together in 2016.
Williams said he owes his family a great deal for his athletics success. While growing up, Williams also played basketball and baseball, but around the age of 12 he decided to stick just to football. Williams admits that basketball will always be his first love but he knows he is a better football player than basketball player. His older cousin, Trey, also had an influence on his decision to focus on football.
"I wanted to do everything he did," Williams laughed. "Wear the same shoes, same socks, everything. I saw him playing football and I wanted to play. He's the reason why I really started. He had a big impact on my whole sports career and everything else."
Williams' father, Troy Sr., was also a major influence on him. He coached him in all three sports while growing up, and the one thing that stuck with Williams was the importance of having a strong work ethic. To this day, Williams is always one of the last players to leave the practice field, taking the time to put in extra work.
"My dad hammered that into my head ever since I was a young kid," Williams explained. "He would take me to the gym after hours and make me shoot around. I couldn't leave until I made a certain number of free throws or until I made a certain time in the gassers or suicides, whatever it was. I used to hate it with a passion. But I am glad he pounded that into my head. It made me into the man I am today."
Knowing that this will be his last season as a Ute, Williams is trying to go out playing his best in whatever time he gets. Voted a team captain for the second-straight year, Williams knows his teammates look up to him. But he had entered the season with the same mindset he has always had: be the best version of himself that he can be.
"Those guys look up to me to make the first down, to make the right call, or whatever it is. I know they look to me to make those kinds of decisions. I just have to tell myself to go out there and just be me. I don't try to be a big commander or the colonel or anything like that. I just try to encourage my guys and keep them upbeat," Williams said. "I am trying to help my team win as many games as possible and do whatever I need to do for the team. Just try to go out the right way."
Williams' ultimate goal is to make his family proud.
"That is my big thing," Williams said. "I made a promise to my mom that I would do everything I can to focus and get the job done. I am going to make sure I keep that promise."
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Utah Athletics Communications
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Troy Williams did not envision playing for three teams during his college football career.
Coming out of Narbonne High School, the two-time CIF Los Angeles City Section Division I Player of the Year and honorable mention Parade All-American had scholarship offers from schools all over the country, including Ole Miss, Florida, Georgia Tech, and the majority of the Pac-12 schools. The list goes on and on. Ultimately, the University of Washington stood above the rest for the 6-foot-2 senior.
"[Washington] was a good fit with Coach (Steve) Sarkisian," Williams said. "I fell in love with his system. It was a lot of L.A. guys and Narbonne guys, in particular. I knew about three or four of them up there. I looked up to those guys my freshman year, just hanging out with them and being on the field. Coach Sark is also a Southern California guy so I fell in love with him. Just being up there with the guys really made me feel like I was at home."
Williams redshirted under Sarkisian in 2013, but their time together was cut short when Sarkisian left UW to become the head coach at USC. Williams started one game for the Huskies under new head coach Chris Peterson in 2014; however, Williams never felt the same connection with Peterson as he had with Sarkisian and decided early on that year he was intent on finding a fresh start at another school.
Williams transferred to Santa Monica College in 2015, throwing for 2,750 yards and 31 touchdowns with just four interceptions. While he excelled on the field and did what he needed to do to give himself a chance to move on to another NCAA Division I program, but he struggled with the move to the junior college level.
"It was hard leaving my brothers up in Seattle," Williams explained. "I had a big bond with those guys. That was the first group of guys that I really lived with. It was hard leaving them but it was the best decision for me and they understood that. Just going there (Santa Monica College) and going through the whole JUCO process opened my eyes and showed me how lucky I was to be in a D-I program."
During his time at Santa Monica, Williams' mother, Kimberly, was diagnosed with cancer. She struggled just to survive at first but eventually beat the disease. However, that period of his life made Williams work harder every day to make his mom proud.
Williams took his unofficial visit to Utah in the summer of 2015 and received a scholarship offer midway through the following season at Santa Monica. He committed to the Utes immediately and joined them for spring practice in 2016. He was named the starter in fall camp and later voted a team captain.
"I couldn't wait to get here," Williams said. "It was great getting back to Division I, the whole big-time environment and everything like that. I didn't mind moving at all. It was a great move. I have been enjoying it since I got here."
In his first season as a Ute, Williams started all 13 games and completed 207-of-390 pass attempts (53.1%) for 2,757 yards and 15 touchdowns. He ranked fifth in the Pac-12 in passing yards.
This season, Williams is listed at the backup to sophomore Tyler Huntley. However, Williams' experience has made him both an experienced backup at one of the most important positions on the team and a valuable mentor to Huntley. The two have been roommates on road trips and have become "best of friends" according to Huntley since they joined the team together in 2016.
Williams said he owes his family a great deal for his athletics success. While growing up, Williams also played basketball and baseball, but around the age of 12 he decided to stick just to football. Williams admits that basketball will always be his first love but he knows he is a better football player than basketball player. His older cousin, Trey, also had an influence on his decision to focus on football.
"I wanted to do everything he did," Williams laughed. "Wear the same shoes, same socks, everything. I saw him playing football and I wanted to play. He's the reason why I really started. He had a big impact on my whole sports career and everything else."
Williams' father, Troy Sr., was also a major influence on him. He coached him in all three sports while growing up, and the one thing that stuck with Williams was the importance of having a strong work ethic. To this day, Williams is always one of the last players to leave the practice field, taking the time to put in extra work.
"My dad hammered that into my head ever since I was a young kid," Williams explained. "He would take me to the gym after hours and make me shoot around. I couldn't leave until I made a certain number of free throws or until I made a certain time in the gassers or suicides, whatever it was. I used to hate it with a passion. But I am glad he pounded that into my head. It made me into the man I am today."
Knowing that this will be his last season as a Ute, Williams is trying to go out playing his best in whatever time he gets. Voted a team captain for the second-straight year, Williams knows his teammates look up to him. But he had entered the season with the same mindset he has always had: be the best version of himself that he can be.
"Those guys look up to me to make the first down, to make the right call, or whatever it is. I know they look to me to make those kinds of decisions. I just have to tell myself to go out there and just be me. I don't try to be a big commander or the colonel or anything like that. I just try to encourage my guys and keep them upbeat," Williams said. "I am trying to help my team win as many games as possible and do whatever I need to do for the team. Just try to go out the right way."
Williams' ultimate goal is to make his family proud.
"That is my big thing," Williams said. "I made a promise to my mom that I would do everything I can to focus and get the job done. I am going to make sure I keep that promise."
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