​AMHERST — A silver necklace hangs around Shey Williams’ neck.An oval pendant falls to the center of the former Lockport star’s chest. On the pendant is a picture of a 10-year-old boy. The boy is one of the reasons Williams is still on the University at Buffalo football team, one of the reasons Williams is still at the school.The boy on the necklace is Williams’ younger brother Javarius. On Feb. 6, 2025, an electrical fire broke out and Javarius and his two siblings — who were left alone in the Batavia house — were trapped inside.His siblings got out, but Javarius did not.Javarius’ guardian, Henry Banks, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child.Back in Amherst, Williams didn’t have much to distract himself from the grief. His freshman football season was finished and spring ball hadn’t started.But Williams’ teammates supported him through the grieving process and made him feel a part of the team. The team confirmed to him why UB was the place that he always wanted to go and play football.“Honestly, that’s one of the biggest things being here since even before that and after my teammates and coaches they just always been here for me,” Williams said. “It’s a connection and … we’re a family, a brotherhood. It’s more than that. I just feel so comfortable being here with them.”All of the challenges that he has faced have taught him a lot both about himself and how he carries himself in the world. It has taught him some of the most important lessons he has learned in his life. Whether or not he gets on the field does not change impact the legitimacy of those lessons. In fact, they reinforce the lessons.His first three years have not been easy and they have been trying for the wide receiver. But he has worked hard to find his way.“Definitely the biggest lessons in my career is stay down and don’t be so hard on yourself,” Williams said. “… If you just keep working and be patient your time will come, maybe it won’t but if you don’t work then that’s your reason. If you’re not working then there’s no excuse. So it’s hard, you just have to keep working.”As a walk-on, the work that Williams has put in has not resulted in a ton of playing time yet. Through his first three years at the University at Buffalo, Williams has played in one game, appearing on offense against St. Francis on Sept. 6, 2025. He came in and blocked on a running play late in the game.In an era of college sports in which players don’t stay at one school long, especially if they aren’t contributing on the field. Williams could have gone to an FCS, Division II or Division III school looking for more playing time.But he did not choose to do that. He chose to stay at Buffalo and try to force the coach’s hands and spend more time on the field. He knows he has the ability to play at the highest college level but he just needs the opportunity to do so. In fact, the thought about leaving