Senior wide receiver Savion Williams is returning to the football squad for his fifth season of eligibility. TCU’s quarterbacks are thrilled. Williams, who in 2023 took the reins of the receiving corps from best buddy and NFL first-round selection Quentin Johnston, led TCU with 573 receiving yards and was third with 41 receptions. 

The 6-foot-5 Williams, who played quarterback at Marshall High School in East Texas, did all of that while continuing his work toward a degree in criminal justice and juggling life as the father to a daughter, Legacy, who was born prematurely May 2, 2023, and needed two operations as a newborn. 

Last season you were the top wide receiver on the team. What allowed you to emerge as the top target?  

I felt like Quentin leaving left me in a position where I had to fill his shoes. I was trying to do everything I could for my team: being there for my team and making plays.  

Why do you catch 100 passes after every practice?  

It’s to make sure I’ve still got it. 

How much does Quentin Johnston still influence you when you’re on the field?  

A lot. I don’t want to say his style, because we’re two different receivers. What Quentin does, he does. What I do, I do. It’s work ethic, really. 

You are a physical receiver who doesn’t go down easily. What are you thinking every time you catch a pass?   

Make the first person miss. My motto when I get the ball is to never let one person bring me down. When I get past the first one, I try to make the next one miss me and try to get as many yards as I can. 

What are your expectations for the offense for the 2024 season?  

To come out here with more confidence than we did last year. We had a new offensive coordinator last year. That was an excuse to everybody and for everybody. But now we’re comfortable. I want to say a goal for us is to play like a team. No one plays for themselves. We all play for each other. 

Savion Williams enjoyed a career outing against the Longhorns last November, pulling in 11 of 13 targets for 164 yards and a touchdown. Courtesy of TCU Athletics | Ellman Photography

Was it hard for the offense to adapt to new coordinator Kendal Briles?  

It was tough. From my last offensive coordinator to this offensive coordinator, their schemes are totally different. You have to know where you lined up every play. It’s more precise. 

What are your individual goals for 2024?  

I don’t really have any. Right now, I just want to do what Savion is known to do. Us winning, that’s probably the best one. 

How do you think you are going to benefit from the extra season of eligibility?  

I think my coming back is a big thing because I felt like if I didn’t come back, I would have missed out on something. Coming back gives me a better opportunity to grow and get ready for what’s after this. 

Are the coaches going to let you throw a pass?  

I had a pass play last season in the Houston game, but the defense blew it up and I just took it and ran with it. I think they’re going to let me throw a pass. 

Do you have the best arm on the team?  

For sure. I played quarterback in little league and all the way through high school. Houston talked to me about playing quarterback my senior year, but I didn’t want to play. 

You didn’t want to play quarterback?  

Nah, I felt like I was going to be a better receiver. 

How did having a daughter change your life?  

It changed it in a big way. Now I’ve got another why. 

What was Legacy’s birth like?  

She had to stay in the NICU for about 17 weeks. First, she had a valve problem. She had to get surgery the day after she was born. We already knew about her heart problem. We were really just trying to get her bigger in the NICU, getting her eating, because she just had the tummy surgery. We just needed to get weight on her so she could start getting ready for her heart surgery. 

She had heart surgery August 1, 2023, the first day of fall camp. How was she by the season opener?  

She was good. I want to say a week after the surgery she was a normal baby. Her heart rate was down. 

And now?  

She is very active.