Wyoming’s football program is counting on true‑freshman cornerback Therman “Boogie” Williams to help shore up a secondary that has been thinned by injuries. The Riverside, Calif., native, who earned his nickname moments after birth, will face Hawaii’s high‑powered passing attack this Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.
Injuries force Wyoming to lean on a freshman
Both fellow freshman Kendall Griffin and teammate Tyson Shamsid‑Deen are recovering from hand surgeries, leaving the Cowboys down two players in the defensive backfield. Head coach Jay Sawvel and defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl have praised Williams and Shamsid‑Deen as the best options available for the upcoming road tilt.
“He felt like he deserved to be out there, and he definitely proved that,” Bohl said, noting that Williams allowed three catches on five targets for just 13 yards in a recent 35‑13 loss to Colorado State.
Coaches see maturity beyond his years
Sawvel emphasized that Williams displayed the mentality and maturity needed for a starting role during spring and winter workouts. The young cornerback also added 17 pounds in the weight room between January and July, underscoring his commitment to physical development.
“Those two guys were great,” Sawvel added, referring to Williams and Griffin. “They came back last night and practiced like it was a Wednesday, like they didn’t even play on Saturday. They both played over 30 plays on Saturday.”
Teammates back his confidence
Veteran receiver Jovon Bouknight praised Williams for his confidence and competitiveness. “He’s a tough, gritty corner, man,” Bouknight said. “He’s got the fight. He’s got the dog in him, man. That’s everything you want. He’s going to be a phenomenal player.”
Stat line and outlook
Through three games, Williams has logged 141 snaps, 45 of which were pass plays, and has recorded six tackles. He was a three‑star recruit who received scholarship offers from Colorado, Marshall, Akron and Sacramento State before choosing Wyoming.
Williams reflected on his rapid adjustment to the college game: “The first game when I went out there, it wasn’t too fast for me or nothing like that. I think now, though, going into the fourth game, it’s definitely slowed down a little bit more.” He added that the belief his coaches have in him fuels his drive.
Game details
Wyoming (1‑2) and Hawaii (1‑2, 0‑1) are set to kickoff at 1 p.m. Mountain Time. The matchup will be televised on The CW.
Original reporting: K2 Radio (Casper) — read the source article.
