The first time Pete Williams saw football, he was taken aback.
“It didn’t make a lot of sense,” the South sophomore said.
That is how it was for the Liberia native, who came to the United States at age 7. Basketball was more appealing, but Williams, now 15, has come around to the appeal of football.
“You get to hit people,” he said. “That’s what I like about it.”
Williams will be at Invesco Field at Mile High today, when the Broncos host the St. Louis Rams and the running back-safety for the 5A Rebels will be honored as the sixth Brian Dawkins-Denver Post Award winner this season.
Williams will be prepared with questions for Dawkins.
“I’ve been watching his games to see how he plays,” Williams said. “I want to ask him about overcoming adversity, like when getting hurt.”
Williams, who came through the new Futures League in Denver, a feeder program for the city, helped the Rebels to a 7-3 record and a three-way share of the new Denver Prep League. He carries a 3.2 grade-point average.
While Williams’ parents are in Europe, he has been living with an uncle in south Denver.
“Pete’s a great kid, and we’ll be counting on him the next two years,” Rebels coach Tony Lindsay said.
Before each Broncos home game, Dawkins, a Denver safety, chooses a prep player who demonstrates strong commitment to and accomplishment in sports and in the classroom, character off the field and an ability to overcome adversity.
The winner receives two tickets to a Broncos home game and pregame sideline passes courtesy of Dawkins. The player must be accompanied by a parent or chaperone. Dawkins will meet with the player after the game.
Nominees must be submitted to The Denver Post at ndevlin@denverpost.com. Dawkins makes the final selection.
