Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Jontez Williams (3) intercepts the ball against Baylor during the third quarter in the NCAA football at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. © Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
AMES — Iowa State cornerback Jontez Williams sensed danger, then glanced upfield at Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who cocked his arm and zeroed in on a target in the end zone.
Williams abandoned his man and sped toward the open receiver, closing the gap rapidly before leaping for a touchdown-saving interception. It was a savvy play by the 5-11, 200-pound sophomore — and it also quelled any hope that the Bears could inch back into the game in the No. 11 Cyclones’ 43-21 win last Saturday at home.
“I saw him let go of the ball and I went to go get it,” said Williams, who hopes to make similarly key plays in Saturday’s 7 p.m. (FOX) Big 12 matchup between ISU (5-0, 2-0) and West Virginia (3-2, 2-0) in Morgantown. “I felt like that was mine, you know?”
Williams is one of five Cyclones defensive backs to snare at least one interception this season. He’s tied for the team lead with fellow corner Darien Porter and safety Jeremiah Cooper with two picks. Safeties Beau Freyler and Malik Verdon have one interception apiece, so clearly there’s a competition for takeaways in that deep secondary room.
“Sometimes those conversations happen,” said Williams, who ranks fourth on the team in solo tackles with 12. “But it’s really, who’s gonna make the play in the moment — and if it comes to you, you’ve gotta make it. Once it does happen, yeah, we do make those jokes. One might have two, one might have three, but we’re all trying to work to get one.”
ISU’s tied for 10th nationally in interceptions with eight and tied for sixth among FBS teams with a plus-1.40 per game turnover margin. So the Cyclones’ ball-hawking identity is well-established — and it dates back to last season when they tied for 10th in the country in interceptions with 16. They’ll face a gritty, ground game-driven Mountaineers team that has struggled to create turnovers, checking in at a tie for 14th in the Big 12 with a minus-0.6 per game mark. West Virginia’s forced just five total turnovers this season, but quarterback Garrett Greene’s been solid with ball security, throwing just four interceptions. The 5-11, 200-pound senior’s produced ten total touchdowns this season (seven passing, three rushing), and may be the most skilled dual-threat quarterback ISU has faced this season.
“(He’s) an elite quarterback,” said ISU head coach Matt Campbell, whose team seeks its first 6-0 start since 1938. “He’s tough. He’s gritty. And I think every game he’s played in since he’s been the (starting) quarterback at West Virginia, they’ve had a chance to win.”
The Cyclones opened as three-point favorites, so Las Vegas’ oddsmakers expect a tense game. And winning the turnover battle yet again may be the key for ISU, as slowing down the Mountaineers’ top-15-ranked running game will likely prove difficult.
West Virginia rushed for a staggering 389 yards last weekend in Stillwater — and three different players, including Greene, ran for 77 yards or more.
“Man, there’s a sense of toughness and pride in everything they do,” Campbell said. “So I really just think they’ve played great team football. They’ve had chances to win every one of the games they’ve played.”
ISU’s chances hinge on the type of plays Williams made in last week’s win. His snap count grew when Porter had to sit out against Baylor and fellow cornerback Myles Purchase went into the tent to be evaluated by medical staff for a potential concussion. He passed that test and returned to the game — and Porter, Campbell said, should be available against West Virginia after a one-game absence. Williams’ role will continue to expand, though, and he’s emerged as one of the Cyclones’ most-improved players.
“He was a guy that when you talk about January, February, March, April, May, those months were nobody gets to see the byproduct of the time, effort and energy you put into your craft — he was elite, and stepped up with some great leadership,” Campbell said. “He led by example with how he came to work every day, (and was) usually the last guy to leave most nights. When I was leaving, that guy was still in here training.”
