T-R FILE PHOTO

There’s almost no way to split the hair when it comes to Marshalltown High School senior Carson Williams. Not even his football coaches could decide whether he’s better on offense or defense, but they enjoyed watching Williams turn that question into a quandary every Friday night for the last two seasons.

Williams, the Bobcats’ 6-foot-5, 225-pound tight end and linebacker, represented one of the best on both sides of the ball this fall as Marshalltown maneuvered its way through the pandemic to a 3-5 season on the gridiron.

Williams, who recently signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his career with the University at Buffalo as a tight end, gave head coach Adam Goodvin and defensive coordinator Duncan Ferch fits when they tried to tip the Williams rating scale toward offense or defense.

“I coach the offense and I call the plays and I’m an offensive mind, but that’s the thing me and coach Ferch have been talking about the last year and a half — is [Williams] better on offense or defense?” Goodvin said. “He’s an outstanding football player. I don’t think I can tell you (offense or defense), but I honestly think when it’s all said and done that’s a good thing.”

Regardless of which way the scale leaned during his days as a Bobcat, Williams earned his place as the Times-Republican’s All-Area Co-Player of the Year because of his accomplishments on both sides of the ball. He was the third-leading tight end in Class 4A this fall, finishing with 35 receptions for 403 yards and three touchdowns and as linebacker he ranked 24th in 4A with 51 total tackles. He led MHS in all of those aforementioned stats while also recovering a fumble, intercepting a pass and making five tackles for loss, headlining a linebacking corps that helped the Marshalltown defense rank in the top half of 4A by allowing 26 points per game.

No matter the numbers, Goodvin said. The University at Buffalo is getting “an elite person.”

“First and foremost, Carson is a competitor and I think when you combine that with his size and his toughness and his skill set, I don’t think there’s any question he’s going to continue finding success at the next level,” Goodvin said. “As a coaching staff we’re all very proud of him. He set a great example for everyone else within our program and we’re very excited to watch him continue to grow and succeed at Buffalo.”

Williams was named by his coaches as the Bobcat Player of the Year after earning all-district honors for the second year in a row and also earning first-team all-state by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. He’s the first Bobcat to be named first-team all-state since De’Quan McDowell and Blake Gimbel in 2012.

“That’s a huge accomplishment to be named first-team all-state in 4A,” Goodvin said. “He was a first-team all-state linebacker and I think that tells you he was a two-way guy for us and just shows how valuable he was for us on both sides of the football.

“We knew Carson was going to do his job every single play.”

Williams, upon signing with Buffalo, was ranked as the 26th best recruit in Iowa and the 111th best tight end in the country by 247sports.

Goodvin, who moved Williams around in the offensive formations to allow him to make an impact as a run blocker or a pass catcher, wouldn’t be stunned to see Buffalo move Williams to another position group of there became a need.

“He’s just very fortunate and happy to play at the next level and that’s what he was working toward is tight end, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he switches to the defensive side of the ball,” Goodvin said. “Or with his size he could add some weight and play some offensive line. And he’s such a competitor, I think he’ll do what it takes to get on the field and that’s a very cool thing.”

Buffalo is an NCAA Division I program and member of the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls entered the Camellia Bowl on Friday with a 5-1 record after falling to Ball State in the MAC Championship game last weekend in Detroit.

Goodvin can’t wait to wear a new shade of blue in support of his former Bobcat next fall.

“He’s here to be not only the best football player, but the best person, and that’s what we’re going to miss about him,” Goodvin said.

2020 Times-Republican All-Area Football Team

Co-Players of the Year — Brayden Evertsen, sr., West Marshall; Luke Pinnick, sr., West Marshall; Carson Williams, sr., Marshalltown

Coach of the Year — Cody Hackett, West Marshall

ALL-AREA TEAM

Quarterback — Taurice Grant, sr., Meskwaki Settlement; Peyton Hart, so., West Marshall

Fullback — Patrick Landeros, sr., Marshalltown.

Running Back — Keagan Giesking, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Malik Haynes, sr., Marshalltown; Preston Pope, jr., West Marshall; Payton Vest, sr., South Tama.

Wide Receiver — John Loney, sr., Marshalltown; Evan Nelson, sr., Meskwaki Settlement.

Tight End — Adam Greiner, jr., North Tama.

Offensive Line — Brock Bonschmit, sr., West Marshall; Aidan DeVolder, sr., Marshalltown; Daniel Garber, sr., BCLUW; Kalem Schrock, sr., South Tama; Ethan Wertzberger, sr., Marshalltown; Auston Wittgreve, sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck.

Defensive Line — Tim Benson, jr., East Marshall; Austin Close, jr., Marshalltown; Dylan Hosek, sr., North Tama; Conner Murty, sr., GMG; Tiernan Wanatee, sr., Meskwaki Settlement.

Linebacker — Samuel Bandstra, sr., East Marshall; Drake Blakesley, jr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck; Jack Hughes, sr., BCLUW; Grant Nason, sr., West Marshall; Logan Rausch, jr., North Tama; Gannon Williams, jr., Marshalltown; Sergio Zaragoza, sr., Marshalltown.

Defensive Back — Jarrin Goecke, sr., West Marshall; Gabe Kopriva, jr., North Tama.

Kicker/Punter — Uriel Martinez, sr., South Tama.

Kick/Punt Returner — Deonte Dean, sr., Marshalltown; Noah Weber, sr., North Tama.

Utility — Jesse Moore, sr., BCLUW.