Sports

Former Fort Hamilton grid star Williams lands at Fordham

Junior college changed Levon Williams. The former Fort Hamilton star switched sides of the ball, from wide receiver to safety. He realized the importance of academics – he wasn’t qualified out of the Brooklyn powerhouse.

It added up to the Crown Heights product realizing his dream, a Division I football scholarship. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect out of Nassau Community College (L.I.) verbally committed to Fordham and new coach Joe Moorhead, who replaced Tom Masella after the Rams went 1-10 this fall, on Thursday. ‘

He picked Fordham over Gardner-Webb, Howard, Albany, Tennessee State, Bethune-Cookman and heavy interest from Rutgers.

“Coach Moorhead, he’s going to bring some new spice to Fordham,” Williams said of his new coach, who was known as a top recruiter in previous stops as an assistant at Connecticut and Akron. “I wanted to be part of that new trend. It meant so much to me that a coach was really interested in me, they really went out of their way to get me in their school and really be honest with me.”

Williams, 21, who has three year of eligibility left, he said, was a standout receiver at Fort Hamilton, hauling in 28 receptions for 287 yards and 10 touchdowns his senior year and leading the Tigers to the PSAL City Championship division title game. He initially attended prep school at Union Christian Academy (Ohio), but after the first semester realized he needed junior college to qualify. He redshirted one year at Nassau Community College and changed positions this season, excelling for the JUCO power.

“I like defense; it’s hard, you have to work,” he said. “I feel comfortable. I think I can play safety at the highest level.”

Fordham began recruiting him in the fall with fervor. Assistant Tim Cary was always around and Moorhead made him a priority. Williams said he liked the idea of staying close to home, where his friends and family can watch him play, and being a part of Moorhead’s rebuilding plan.

“I’m just excited,” he said. “I’ve been waiting for a day like this. It feels like a huge burden off my chest. I feel great about this opportunity. I get my chance to prove myself on the field.”

Fordham’s stellar academics also played a major role. Williams knows three Fort Hamilton alums who went to the Bronx school and all three have productive jobs. Williams dedicated himself to his studies at Nassau and plans to continue to do the same at Fordham.

“I wanted to get a free education at the highest level,” he said. “That really put Fordham over the top.”

zbraziller@nypost.com