Utah State Aggies quarterback Levi Williams will forfeit his last year of eligibility and instead prepare for Navy SEAL training, following in the footsteps of his family to “protect this great country.”
Williams, a junior at Utah State, made the special announcement on a local radio show in Salt Lake City, revealing he would start his new journey right after the team’s upcoming bowl game.
“It’s something that took a lot of thought and consideration,” Williams said on KSL 97.5 FM. “I love football and it’s so great, but I knew eventually it was going to come to an end. With the timeline of training and stuff, it just works out perfectly to end it this year.”
The Aggies quarterback said the decision to apply for the Navy SEAL training was influenced in part due to his parent’s and grandparents’ legacies of serving in the military.
Williams’ mother served in the Army while his grandparents served in the Army and Navy.
“I just want to be in a spot where I can protect this great country where we get to play football with the freedom to do that.
“I think this is the best country in the world, so I’d like to keep it that way and protect it as long as I can.” Williams continued.
Williams, hoping to become a Navy SEAL officer by 2025, revealed the life-changing conversation he had with his fiancé Tatum that he wanted to join the military.
“I told her, ‘Hey, I need to talk to you about something really serious. This is what’s on my heart and where I feel like God’s calling me,” Williams recalled. “She said, ‘That’s awesome. Let’s do it. I’m with you until the end.’ Her dad was Army as well so she kind of knows the military life so she’s excited.”
The eye opening move follows Williams’ huge outing against New Mexico in a Mountain West Conference regular-season finale Friday, where he lead the Aggies to a 44-41 double-overtime win.
Williams, who scored on a 13-yard game-winning touchdown, threw for 351 yards and five touchdowns before being named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week Monday.
The Texas native played at Wyoming from 2019 to 2021 before transferring to Utah State in 2022.