Much respect.
Utah State quarterback Levi Williams took full advantage of his first game as a starter, scoring a whopping five touchdowns against New Mexico in a 44-41 win to make his team bowl eligible. It’s been a revolving door of quarterbacks at Utah State this season, and the Wyoming transfer made the most of his first and only start.
For most quarterbacks in Williams’ position, they’d be eying the NFL Draft or the transfer portal, in hopes of finding a place where they could immediately become a full time starter and/or earn more NIL money. Coming off a game like that, he might get some looks.
But no, this kid is built different.
Williams announced on KSL Sports Zone’s Hans & Scotty that he would not be returning for the 2024 season, and instead, he’s leaving to become a Navy SEAL.
He told the outlet:
“I love football and it’s so great. But I knew that, eventually, it was going to come to an end. I just want to be in a spot where I can protect this great country where we get to play football with the freedom to do that.
I think this is the best country in the world. So I’d like to keep it that way and protect it as long as I can.”
For him, military service runs in the family:
“The timeline with training and stuff, it just kind of works out perfectly to get in this year. My mom was Army. My grandparents were Navy and Army. So it kind of runs in the family.”
You have to respect a decision like this one. We’re living in a time where college athletes are transferring two, three, and sometimes even four times just because they aren’t ready to leave college yet and are trying to chase the bag, and I don’t judge someone for that at all.
But when a college player says they’re willing to leave football behind to become a Navy SEAL, nothing but respect.
