Joseph Williams has become the weapon of the future for Colorado football

Joseph Williams hauls in his second touchdown in as many games amid the Buffs’ win over Wyoming. (Photo by Christian Blanco/Sko Buffs Sports)

Colorado transfer wide receiver Joseph Williams came to Boulder with high expectations but got off to a slow start. However, his recent performances give reason to believe his breakout is underway.

The sophomore gave fans a first look at his skillset in the Buffs’ 2025 Spring Game in which he was the go-to target for both Julian Lewis and Kaidon Salter. This, accompanied by the spurts of dominance he showcased in his time at Tulsa brought high expectations for his Colorado debut. 

He was listed as the third wideout on the unofficial depth chart in the Buffs’ Week 1 matchup against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. In a game that saw the Buffaloes offense struggle to get into rhythm, Williams didn’t deliver the way his team was hoping. He only hauled in one pass for 10 yards in the Buffaloes’ 27-20 loss.

This moment served as a turning point for the young receiver. In the games following, Williams has recorded eight catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns. In Colorado’s most recent game against the Wyoming Cowboys, he hauled in a mammoth 47-yard touchdown early in the third quarter that ignited a fire in his team. 

“I’m getting really comfortable,” Williams said at his Wednesday press conference. “I’m spending a lot of time with Kaidon [Salter]...he knows he can put the ball in a certain spot and I’ll go get it for him.”

The Buffaloes are dealing with injuries to their running backs going into their Week 5 matchup against the No. 25 BYU Cougars. The Cougars possess a defense that has allowed the least points-per-game in the country to this point in the season. Williams and the rest of the receivers now have the pressure shifted onto their shoulders to be the lifeblood of CU’s offense in this game.

“We’ve got to be very disciplined,” Williams said. “We’ve got to be on our p’s and q’s, we’ve got to be able to execute on our assignments at the highest level we can.” 

Williams’ mentality and contributions despite his youth are certainly exciting for Colorado fans. He’s undoubtedly trending in the right direction and his coaching staff shares that same excitement.

“I can’t put a ceiling on him at this point,” Colorado wide receivers coach Jason Phillips said on Wednesday. “If I said anything that’s what I’d be doing…he’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

With the sky as the limit for the Arlington native, fans may be witnessing the start of an incredibly successful career before their very eyes.