The tantalizing talent of Jonah Williams

The core reason humans follow sports, watch movies, listen to music, and read novels is to feel something.

[Join Inside Texas TODAY and get FOUR MONTHS for just ONE DOLLAR!]

There are many times where I think the culture has lost that core tenet. You see it in movies, where everything must be linked to intellectual property or some wide tentacle reaching franchise. And in sports, the string pullers increasingly do not understand the fans.

But I have had two moments in the last week, once in the movie theater, another time in the stands, where I felt something. The moments were reminders of why we come back to these wells over and over again, even when it is drier than it used to be.

In the theater, there is a scene in Ryan Coogler’s new movie Sinners where a blues player at a 1930s juke joint begins playing, and the music shows how songs have the ability to stretch into the future and into the past simultaneously. In a scene that should not work, the people dancing to the blues in a sweaty barn are surrounded by both tribal dancers, a Jimi Hendrix looking guitar player, and record spinning DJs all at once. I lost my breath for a moment watching the scene unfold.

In the stands, put very simply, the feeling was restored after hearing the crowd react to Texas two sport athlete Jonah Williams and his big weekend against Auburn. His talent, swagger and showmanship invite all of those emotions from fans in droves. The On3 Industry Ranking’s number 7 overall football prospect in the 2025 rankings and No. 1 safety, huge things are expected from Williams at safety and maybe returner. But for now, Williams started in left field and showed out, going 5 for 7 from the plate and adding three RBIs in a huge series sweep over the Tigers. Every time Williams took the plate or made it to first base, Disch-Falk Field erupted with a roar that was both in awe of what just happened and anticipatory of what is to come.

Just getting Williams to Austin was a team effort by Jim Schlossnagle and Steve Sarkisian. Williams was not going to come to any school without the assurance he could play in both sports after starring at Galveston Ball on the diamond and the gridiron. Both of his coaches weighed in on him after the weekend.

“Jonah Williams, what a great boost we knew he would be. We knew he would be super competitive in there. But to have a guy who is supposed to be in high school right now and be 17 years old, and in that setting, tells you what a special competitive athlete he is. Fun to watch,” Schlossnagle said. 

Sarkisian added, “The guy is out there looking like Juan Soto right now. He has a great opportunity, and he is maximizing it.”

It is funny, Williams should be going to senior prom right now rather than starting for the No. 1 team in the country. And Williams is really a baseball star on the mound. He is a fire breathing lefty, not who you typically associate as being a do it all football star. But a collarbone injury during football season has sidelined his pitching for the time being.

Like the scene in Sinners, Williams’ performance both reached back in time and looked forward. It looked forward by laying the groundwork for what should be a fascinating and exciting career on the Forty Acres in two sports. But it looked backward by reminding us how breathtaking sports can be. The otherworldly display of skill that inspires us and causes us to daydream all at once.

And the fact that Williams left Tuesday’s game versus Texas State after a TOOTBLAN doesn’t diminish from the conversation. Odds are Williams is a little dinged up but he was seen on his feet celebrating Jalin Flores’ go-ahead grand slam with his teammates in San Marcos.

It has been interesting hearing all the conversations over the past five days about the best two sport athletes in Longhorns history. Hopefully one day Williams will be added to that conversation as a thumping safety who can make plays all over the field and a baseball icon at Disch Falk.

The list starts with James Street, who never lost a game as Darrell K Royal’s starting quarterback and was also an ace pitcher for Cliff Gustafson. Street is the only pitcher in Longhorns history to ever throw a perfect game. Then there’s Marquise Goodwin, a two way star in football and track and field. Lam Jones, a gold medal winner in track and an NFL wide receiver. Destinee Hooker, who won national championships in both volleyball and high jump.

The names are storied, and Williams is just beginning to write his own.

There is also Keith Moreland, known by many modern Texas fans for his commentary on Longhorn baseball and for having his number retired at Disch Falk Field. But fewer remember that Moreland was once a bruising safety for Darrell Royal, in addition to being a star on the diamond. He called the conversation where he told Royal he was stepping away from football “one of the toughest” of his life. But Royal’s response — disappointed, but understanding — gave Moreland the confidence to go all in on baseball.

[Order The Longhorn Alphabet today and teach your little ones the A to Zs of Texas Football!]

The odds say that one day Williams too might be forced to choose between the two sports. But maybe he will continue to do the unconventional and defy our imaginations. Reaching into the past and into the future.