Pirates’ Williams receives first FBS offer from Oregon

HANNIBAL, Mo. — Aneyas Williams understands what comes with his first FBS scholarship offer.

“I definitely know I have a target on my back,” the Hannibal football team’s sophomore all-purpose back said.

He also understands what he has to do now, too.

“Work two times as hard as everybody else,” Williams said.

Monday evening, two days after attending the Saturday Night Live Camp at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore., the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Williams received a phone call from Ducks running backs coach Jim Mastro and was offered a scholarship from the back-to-back reigning PAC-12 champions.

“It’s really big and eye-opening,” Williams said. “It’s kind of humbling because it tells me what is really possible for me.”

More FBS offers are possible. Actually, they’re probable.

“It’s a lot more motivating,” Williams said. “I was always motivated to get that first one. Now that I’ve got it, it’s like, ‘Wow, I can really do this.’ It’s time to work harder for it.”

Last fall, when the Pirates made a Class 4 state quarterfinal appearance, Williams received second-team all-state honors as an all-purpose back after catching 37 passes for 713 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also rushing for 501 yards and eight touchdowns.

The first-team All-North Central Missouri Conference wide receiver also threw three touchdown passes when starting quarterback Courtland Watson was out with an injury.

Williams, Watson, third-team all-state left tackle Caden Selle, second-team all-state safety Kaiser Greenwell and a host of other experienced players return as the Pirates expect to contend for a district title and more this fall in Jeff Gschwender’s first season as head coach.

“I’m ready. We’re ready,” Williams said. “Time to bring home a state championship.”