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March 28, 2024

prep football:

Chaparral wide receiver Toure Williams is ‘a faster version of Phillip Payne’

Toure Williams

Steve Marcus

Toure Williams, a Chaparral High School rising senior, hauls in a pass during football practice at the school Wednesday, June 29, 2011.

Toure Williams

Toure Williams, a Chaparral High School rising senior, poses during football practice at the school Wednesday, June 29, 2011. Launch slideshow »

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Chaparral High football player Toure Williams might be one of the Las Vegas Valley’s best-kept secrets on the college football recruiting trail.

He’s partially flown under the radar because Chaparral has had one win in the last two years and because the Cowboys had a coaching change late in the spring. If the 6-foot-2, 180-pound rising senior wide receiver played for Southern Nevada powers Bishop Gorman or Palo Verde, he’d likely be one of the area’s top prospects.

“Oh, if that were the case, he’d be getting looks galore,” first-year Chaparral coach Bill Froman said.

During one of Froman’s initial workouts in May after taking over for Donnie Davis, he quickly realized one player stood out above the rest. Williams made dazzling catches seem routine in showing he has all of the tools to excel at the next level.

“He is a faster version of Phillip Payne,” Froman said in comparing Williams to the UNLV receiver. “He is real polished. His hands are crazy soft. He will fight for the ball and catch it at its highest point.”

The roadblocks in Williams’ way at Chaparral could have easily defeated him. Instead of being showcased as one of the area’s top players, Williams’ feats were hardly noticed — his name was even spelled wrong on the roster early in the season.

Despite the Cowboys having injury problems at quarterback last year, Williams finished with 25 receptions for 505 yards and four touchdowns. Considering his team was outscored 388-162, Williams’ most impressive feat might have been his ability to stay positive.

“I’m a Cowboy for life,” he said. “Of course, the losing isn’t a good experience. But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to go out and play hard.”

That attitude has carried over to this summer. Froman is installing a run-heavy offense, where Williams’ chances at wide receiver could be significantly less than last year.

Just don’t expect him to complain.

“He’s just a hard-working kid who does everything we ask,” Froman said. “His first statement to me, and it seemed super genuine, is ‘whatever it takes. I want to win football games.’”

Williams has made a small splash this offseason at recruiting events in trying to get recognized. He excelled in the one-on-one drills in May at the Southern Nevada Football Coaches Association combine and ran a 4.6 second 40-yard dash at another event.

He also shined at Boise State’s camp two weeks ago, where he was invited participant and said he was the second-best receiver at the camp.

He currently has no scholarship offers but said he has drawn interest from Boise State, Illinois, Utah, San Diego State and Weber State. He attended UNLV’s camp but said they aren’t recruiting him.

Like the development of his team, Williams doesn’t mind being patient in the recruiting process.

“I like winning games just like everyone else,” he said. “But it’s not always about winning. It can’t be here. We have to go on the field and play our hardest. It’s time for a change here and I'm happy to be part of that.”

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