After one season at Utah, this wide receiver knew he needed something more. Now a sophomore, his transfer to USC brings him back home to Los Angeles.
Growing up outside of Los Angeles in Gardena, California, Zacharyus Williams wasn’t raised as a USC Trojans fan. In fact, when the Trojans tried to recruit Williams out of Junipero Serra High School, he was unswayable from Utah, where he committed in November 2023 as a junior.
But Williams is coming home.
The wide receiver entered the transfer portal April 22 and committed to USC just four days later, April 26. As the first few days of fall camp unfold, Williams is eager to get to work.
“It feels surreal. It feels amazing. I never thought I'd be here, to be honest,” Williams said Monday at USC football media day. “Always good to be back home. My support system's here, and to be under these coaches, it's always a good opportunity to get better and ready for the next level.”
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound sophomore played in 10 games last year for the Utes, recording 10 receptions for 101 yards. During the final four games of the season, Williams played only on offensive snaps. In the last matchup of the year, the receiver logged a career-high six receptions for 72 yards and 11 rushing yards on two carries.
“I was just looking for the best, where I could improve being the best to be ready to get to the NFL,” Williams said. “Just felt like in order to reach my full potential, I thought it would be best somewhere else. And USC is where I plan to make that happen. Very blessed to be here and be able to be coached by coach [Dennis] Simmons and coach Lincoln Riley.”
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It was Trojans’ wide receiver coach and assistant head coach Dennis Simmons who tried to recruit Williams as a high school prospect. When Simmons saw the sophomore in the portal, he moved fast and didn’t let the wide receiver slip away a second time.
“He's hard to bring down,” Simmons said Monday at USC football media day. “He runs the ball kind of like a running back. He's got very strong hands, so he attacks the ball in the air very aggressively. I would anticipate seeing that transfer into the run game. I know he's not going to be afraid to stick his hat in there. It'll be exciting to see during fall camp when he gets that opportunity to do something.”
Category: General Sports
