EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the third in an 8-part series highlighting the elite football players in the area who encompass leadership, athleticism and game-changing ability for their teams in 2017. The players are taken from the rosters of high school teams in The Star-Herald coverage area and are nominated by their coaches. Sports editor Stan Beall makes the selections. The players will be revealed one at a time over an 8-week period and are in no particular order. Previously selected were Kosciusko’s Kadarius Banks and Ethel’s Ty’Kevin Wade.
“Don’t give up; never give up, you can always do whatever you set your mind to,” says Kosciusko senior speedster Jaquan Williams. Williams, the newest member of The Star-Herald’s 2017 Elite 8 Team, stands 6 feet tall and weighs in at a slick 170 pounds. He will play multiple positions for the Whippets ranging from quarterback to safety and states that his favorite things to do on a football field are hitting someone and catching the ball. His elusiveness on a football field is extremely evident to anyone that has watched Williams in action over the last couple of years. Whether it was after a catch or on a return, he has always seemed to be a step faster than those pursuing him.
“Through the years as I have matured, I have become someone to rely on because I know people are looking up to me,” said Williams. “I just want to be humble and rely on my teammates and try to get them involved. I handle my responsibilities now better than I did when I was younger and I look forward to helping my team come out with a win.”
Williams’ dream is to play football in college and states that his favorite college team is Miami. He wants to be a business major and enjoys fishing, swimming and hanging out with his friends and his girlfriend. “All I know is that when I am on the field I will give 110 percent,” added Williams. “Coach is always talking about how we need to step up and all that and give our best. I’ve been really trying to stay focused on football and have really been hitting the weight room hard with my teammates this summer while learning the plays as we go.”
Williams is described by his coaches as a player that goes above and beyond everything that they have asked him to do and adapts quickly to new situations presented to him. “When we asked him to play quarterback which was a new position to him in the spring, he had no bones about it and was ready to roll with it,” said Kosciusko head football coach Kelly Causey. “He is one of those guys that will be a leader for our team just because of his work ethic and how he does things. He is an athlete, no doubt, and he will be able to help us on both sides of the ball whether it’s at quarterback, receiver or safety. He is going to be a guy that will spend a lot of time on the grass during a ball game. I can tell you that much.”
Williams is excited for the upcoming season and urges the fans to show up to watch them win in 2017. “We have been getting up early and working out hard, and we will never stop,” concluded Williams. “We will be a physical team and hopefully we can get to the state championship.”
The Whippets will play in the Philadelphia Jamboree on August 11 and will open the regular season at home against Neshoba Central the following week.
