Boise State roster countdown 2017: Day 9, Desmond Williams

Whoooa, we’re into single digits and that smoke you see in the Treasure Valley might just be barbecue grills getting fired up for test runs. With 9 days left, how’s about we look at #9 on the Bronco roster—Desmond Williams

#9, Desmond Williams, RS Freshman, SLB

Stats

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 201 lbs.

High School: Centennial High School, Corona, CA

How’d he get to The Blue™?

A bit of a no-brainer for the Centennial High standout. He had two offers to play FBS level college ball when he pledged his services to the Broncos—Washington State and Boise State. Which makes things kind of easy, in that he only needed to choose the correct one. And the correct one he did!

Williams’ commitment was somewhat over-shadowed by Reid Harrison-Ducros’ own pledge as Williams announced his right after RHD, but it was no less consequential and the Broncos were lucky to hang on to the talented athlete all the way through signing day. A consensus 3-star recruit, Williams was rated the #120 player in the entire country and the 19th best in the state while helping his Centennial squad to a MaxPreps #2 national team ranking. As a senior, Desmond had 67 tackles (two for-loss) and an INT and was named first-team all-league for his efforts. As a junior, he garnered second-team all-league honors.

Nickname

“Dez”

Let’s not think too hard about this (so basically the opposite of what we normally do)

Look-alike

Young Mario Van Peebles?

Career Highlights

First-team all-league honoree as a senior at Centennial. Led team to Pac-5 title as a senior in 2015. Second-team all-league honoree as a junior in 2014. Led team to a Pac-5 title as a junior in 2014.

2017 Prospectus

It’s been a helluva spring and fall at Boise State if your last name happens to be “Williams”. First, (former) walk-on Avery Williams came out of nowhere to create lightyear’s worth of buzz (see what I did there?) during spring camp and then landed a coveted scholarship at the outset of fall camp. Then, of course, today’s highlightee had himself quite the spring as well and routinely worked with the first team as a SAM backer. This fall he continued his rise and if things hold, he looks poised to start the season as tag-team partner with the Gabe Perez.

There’s an undeniable youth movement on this Bronco D, but there seems to be an edge and attitude returning to this group after a year (2016) where their teeth were largely pulled. Last season, the yards per game and points per game went up and their total takeaways fell right off a cliff. With youngsters like Deandre Pierce, the Williams boys, Harrison Ducros, Maeva, Curtis Weaver etc, poised for breakouts, this defense could provide a terrifying glimpse into the near future if they come together quickly. Williams, many forget, was actually a gigantic “get” for the Broncos last season and his athleticism and versatility is about to pay big dividends in 2017. Look for him to really rack up the tackles and haul in, or help cause, a presumptive uptick in turnovers for the Broncos. If he’s as good as advertised, this will be a fun four years.

Is he on Twitter?

He is, and one could follow him at @Dez07W if one was so inclined.

Completely made up fact

Williams has seen Titanic 27 times. His favorite part is the part with the ship in it.