ORLANDO, FL - If the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl turns out to be Maxx Williams' last college game, he left Minnesota fans something to remember him by.
Williams' spectacular 54-yard touchdown reception was the Gophers' biggest play Thursday in a 33-17 loss to Missouri in the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl.
The All-Big Ten tight end caught a short pass along the sideline and turned it into a long gain, showing his speed and leaping over a Missouri defensive back to get into the end zone.
"I had a feeling the (defensive) backs were going to try to hit me low because (I'm a) bigger-body tight end," said the 6-foot-4, 250-pound sophomore from Waconia, Minn. "I saw a guy kind of running with me, kind of closed my eyes and said: 'Hey, might as well go for it, got to try it' ... and it worked out."
The play gave the Gophers a brief 14-13 lead, but they lost it in spite of Williams' seven catches for 98 yards.
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Now comes a difficult decision for Williams, who as a redshirt sophomore can declare for the 2015 NFL Draft. After catching 29 passes for 471 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season, Williams was the only Minnesota player to be named to the All-Big Ten first-team offense.
"I'm going to sit down with my family tonight and tomorrow and I'll come up with my decision soon," he said.
Minnesota coach Jerry Kill said, "He's where he's at because he works at it ... and he's got the gift. There's not that many people who catch the football like that. He's got great hands."
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By Dick Scanlon, The Sports Xchange
