Two Merced County football players sign with Division I programs. Where are they headed?
Xavier Williams couldn’t pass up an opportunity to play with his brother Pierre.
The Atwater High senior will get that chance after signing a national letter of intent Wednesday to accept a football scholarship to Sacramento State University.
A ceremony was held in the gym to celebrate Williams’ signing.
“I couldn’t wait to sign that paper,” Williams said. “There was a lot of close people there. I’m glad I finally got it done.”
Wednesday marked the beginning of the early signing period for football players. Williams was one of two Merced County players to sign with a Division I school.
Across town at Buhach Colony, Trey Paster signed his national letter of intent with Cal.
“Really the day is about all the hard work that went to getting that pen,” Paster said. “Once the ink dries, it’s go time.”
Williams played on both sides of the ball for the Falcons where he was an all-Central California Conference first-team selection as a tight end and defensive lineman. The 6-foot-3, 260 pound Williams will head to Sacramento State as a defensive player.
Williams says the close connections he formed with the players and coaches helped make his decision easy.
“The biggest thing is my brother is there,” he said. “That got me in a lot easier. The new coaching staff did a great job of making sure I was there every weekend. I know all the players and it’s like a brotherhood. The family connections I made, it just stuck.”
Williams, who has a 3.3 GPA and plans to major in communications, joins a Hornets program that is coming off of a 9-4 season under first-year coach Troy Taylor.
“I’m very excited,” Williams said. “I’m not going to be on the field at the same time as my brother but we’ll be playing together again. It’s a full-ride scholarship. I couldn’t be more excited.”
Paster verbally committed to Cal in July and never wavered on his decision.
“I think it’s just the coaches, the culture and the program,” Paster said. “It’s just for me. I’ve known that ever since I got the offer. It’s been Cal 100% all the way.”
Paster has the size at 6-feet-2-inches tall, weighing 200 pounds — which most big-time programs are looking for in defensive backs. Paster could compete for playing time at safety or cornerback at Cal.
Paster has maintained a 3.3 GPA in high school and plans to major in business.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s the result of hard work and what it took to get here. Signing day is an exciting day.”
