Saturdays Game Will Be A Special One For Tight End

ETSU's Williams Set to Face Former Team Appalachian State

Saturday's Game Will Be a Special One for Tight End

Williams Played for the Mountaineers from 2019-2021

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (August 24, 2023) – When Eastern Tennessee State University takes the field at Appalachian State University on Saturday, Aug. 26, tight end Ethan Williams will be facing his former team for the first time.

Williams, a redshirt junior from Kernersville, N.C., played for the Mountaineers from 2019-2021. He appeared in 34 games and made 13 starts during that time. He caught 24 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns.

After graduating from Appalachian State in May 2022, Williams transferred to ETSU. He is expected to be a key contributor for the Buccaneers this season.

"It's going to be a special game for me," Williams said. "I spent three great years at Appalachian State, and I still have a lot of friends on the team. But I'm also excited to play against them and show them what I can do."

The Buccaneers and Mountaineers are scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, N.C. The game will be televised on ESPN+.

Scouting Report

• The Mountaineers are a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
• They finished the 2022 season with an 11-2 record, including a 7-1 record in conference play.
• They won the Sun Belt championship game and advanced to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs.
• They lost to North Dakota State in the FCS semifinals.
• Appalachian State is ranked No. 12 in the STATS FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll.

The Buccaneers are a member of the Southern Conference.

• They finished the 2022 season with a 4-7 record, including a 3-4 record in conference play.
• They finished eighth in the Southern Conference standings.
• They did not qualify for the FCS playoffs.
• They are picked to finish eighth in the Southern Conference preseason poll.

The Mountaineers are favored to win Saturday's game.

• They are ranked higher in the FCS polls.
• They have a more experienced team.
• They are playing at home.

However, the Buccaneers are confident that they can pull off the upset.

• They have a talented team.
• They have a good game plan.
• They are motivated to prove that they are better than their preseason ranking.