When it comes to high expectations, players will often say things like, “No one will have higher expectations for me than I do.”
Perhaps that is true.
But for University of Washington true freshman receiver Kasen Williams, you have to wonder whether that would be possible, because no matter how high he set his goals, someone probably had higher ones for the former Skyline High star.
So much was expected of him because of his considerable talent, probably unfairly.
He was Parade magazine’s high school player of the year. His father, Aaron, was a football and track star at Wilson High and UW.
And yet, as he prepares to play in the Apple Cup at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, a look at the statistics would show numbers that are good, but not great.
Williams has caught 28 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns.
“It has taken time, like it does for some freshmen,” UW coach Steve Sarkisian said. “It’s taken longer to get comfortable.”
Plenty of receivers would take those numbers. But for Williams? Many people expected those stats to be doubled.
It seems unfair considering that Williams is playing his first season of college football. But such is the life for a player who stormed onto the Washington high school football scene as a freshman and became one of the most explosive and electrifying playmakers in state history.
But Williams seems satisfied with his first college season. Sure, he would have liked to catch more passes, score more touchdowns and be a bigger presence, but he learned something when it came to playing football at the Pacific-12 Conference level – being successful doesn’t just happen overnight, even for someone as talented as him.
“The quickness of the game is one aspect that’s taken me a while to adjust to,” he said. “The level is higher. The little things you get away with in high school are things you can’t get away with here.”
The little things he got away with at fall practice, where he dominated at times, didn’t carry over into games.
“They are watching film on me, just like I’m watching film on them,” he said. “They pick up everything.”
The details and nuances that go with playing receiver became more important to Williams. He’s not just using his size, strength and speed to overwhelm opponents.
“It’s the little things I had to work on,” he said. “Coming out of breaks, breaking down on routes, looking up for the ball and catching with my hands. It’s all the little stuff I had to work on. Bringing all that stuff together, one practice at a time, has helped my game.”
Sarkisian has remained patient with his prized recruit. He has tried to temper people’s lofty expectations about Williams since the beginning of fall camp.
More importantly to Sarkisian, he’s seen the growth. He saw Williams struggle and drop passes early, and fight through an ankle injury to grab a starting spot.
“He understands what it takes to work, and the work ethic needed to get better at this thing,” Sarkisian said. “Not for a second have I felt him complain about it. There’s been frustration. There’s been days of frustration, where I think he wishes he could be doing more and doing better. But now he’s gotten to the point where he’s earned it. He’s earned his playing time, and he’s playing well.”
In recent weeks, there have been extended hints of the Williams people expected. There was a huge catch and run against Arizona, a long catch against Oregon and a touchdown grab last week against Oregon State.
He might not get targeted as much as he or some people would like, but he understands that the opportunities will come.
“I might get two balls thrown my way, but I’m catching both of them,” he said. “I just know that eventually the ball is going to come my way. And I’m going to catch the ball when it comes to me.”
But with the way Williams has played in recent weeks, Sarkisian’s confidence in him has grown.
“I think he’s just playing faster now,” Sarkisian said. “There’s so much less hesitation to his game –his ability to line up, know the call and play fast. We know the natural ability that he has. He’s one of the better catchers I’ve been around — just a sure-handed, strong catching guy.”
A more confident Williams should be a key factor for the Huskies in their remaining games.
“He knows the system, he’s starting to get our calls, he’s studying,” quarterback Keith Price said. “You can tell he’s starting to get more comfortable. It’s showing. He’s progressed enormously.”
Ryan Divish: 253-597-8483 ryan.divish@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/uwsports
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