Boise State’s Williams embraces special teams role. ‘I feel like I can be that spark.’
With Troy in town for the 2017 season opener, Boise State punt returner Avery Williams was worried.
Then a redshirt freshman, it was the former walk-on’s first game as the starting punt returner, but he wasn’t nervous. Williams was worried about the sun.
Day games have become a rare occurrence at Boise State, but that particular season opener began at 1:45 p.m. Williams knew from experience in practice that the sun was going to be a problem, so during the week he scheduled times with punters in the middle of the day and went out to Albertsons Stadium to get used to tracking the ball through the glare.
Still, the moment the game’s first punt left the punter’s foot, Williams lost it in the sun. He said it felt like an eternity, though he knows it was only a few seconds, and when the ball finally came back into his line of sight, he said it felt like it was about to hit him in the facemask.
Williams didn’t panic, though. He managed to cradle the ball and follow his blocks well enough to return the first punt of his college career for an 81-yard touchdown.
It was reminiscent of the first punt return of his high school career. He didn’t have the chance until he transferred to JSerra Catholic in San Juan Capistrano, California, for his senior year. And when he finally got the chance, he muffed it. But he calmly picked the ball up, made a couple guys miss and returned it for a touchdown.
“Whether we’re trying to block a kick or catch a punt and return it, I like to be known as someone who can change the game,” Williams said. “I feel like I can be that spark through special teams.”
This season, Williams returned two punts for touchdowns, blocked a punt and an extra point and was named Mountain West Special Team Player of the Year. He has been the spark the Broncos needed, especially in the latter half of the season.
“It’s a blessing to be able to go out there and be a weapon on any team, but the plan was always to come in here and contribute on special teams,” said Williams, a junior who also starts at cornerback. “Some guys are back there because they’re good at it, but they don’t really want to be back there, and you can tell.”
He’s one of two players in the country with multiple punt returns for touchdowns this season, joining TCU’s Jalen Reagor, and Williams is a guy the Washington Huskies are going to have plan for Dec. 21 in the Las Vegas Bowl (5:30 p.m., ABC).
“I feel like every time he goes out there he’s about to take one back, so I’m always on my toes,” Boise State wide receiver CT Thomas said.
Williams returned an onside kick attempt 39 yards to set up a touchdown Oct. 5 against UNLV, but he didn’t break free for a momentum-swinging punt return until Boise State’s Nov. 2 trip to San Jose State. And he picked the perfect moment to be the spark.
After the Spartans opened the game with back-to-back touchdown drives, he got the Broncos on the scoreboard with a 66-yard return. Boise State went on to win 52-42.
“He was really able to create the momentum in the first half, and that was what we needed,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said after the game. “You talk about game-changing special teams, that became the kicker that really started everything.”
The next week, Williams blocked a punt in a game against Wyoming that Boise State needed overtime to win. And his second punt return touchdown of the season — a 74-yarder at Utah State — gave the Broncos’ a 49-7 lead in the third quarter of a game they needed to win to clinch the Mountain Division and home-field advantage in the conference championship game.
“It starts with him with his mentality and preparation. There couldn’t be a better example of being locked in at all times and studying things,” Boise State defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding said. “Special teams, PAT block, his corner techniques; he’s one of those guys that’s got a fine-tooth comb and goes over everything, and I think that allows him to be who he is.”
Williams developed that mentality when he didn’t have a single scholarship offer as a senior at JSerra despite being named co-offensive MVP in the Trinity League, which he called the “best high school league in America.”
JSerra faced powerhouse programs such at Mater Dei, Santa Margarita, St. John Bosco and Long Beach Poly, and Williams — then a running back — finished his senior year with 1,175 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. The college coaches that were calling weren’t offering scholarships, but he said he was past worrying about it at that point. He knew an opportunity would present itself. He just didn’t know how or where.
Boise State gave Williams a scholarship in August 2017, a year after he arrived.
“I was just at a different mental state my senior year, having no offers. I was on a path to just prove myself,” Williams said. “Having no offers didn’t hold me back at all. It actually pushed me, and I knew I was going to keep putting in the work because once you get to college there’s no hiding.”
NO. 18 BOISE STATE VS. WASHINGTON
What: Las Vegas Bowl
When: 5:30 p.m. MT Saturday, Dec. 21
Where: Sam Boyd Stadium (35,500), Las Vegas
TV: ABC (Bob Wischusen, Kirk Herbstreit, Molly McGrath)
Radio: KBOI 670 AM (Bob Behler, Pete Cavender)
Records: Boise State is 12-1; Washington is 7-5
Series: The series is tied 2-2 (last meeting: Boise State won 16-13 in 2015 in Albertsons Stadium)
Vegas line: Washington by 3.5
Weather: High of 46 degrees, 20 percent chance of rain, 7 mph wind out of the northwest
