Like many proficient highschool soccer gamers who obtain Division I gives, Crete-Monee’s Lynel Billups-Williams has a dream of taking part in within the NFL.
But there’s something else the senior receiver desires to perform. Billups-Williams, who dedicated to Miami of Ohio in the summertime, has an enormous aim off the sphere.
“I want to be the first member of the Billups family to graduate from college,” he stated. “I need to do this for the household. Everybody is rooting for me to try this.
“Uncles, cousins, friends, everybody. Some of them have gone to college but didn’t graduate.”
Billups-Williams, who plans on majoring in enterprise, stated he desires to personal a enterprise that can promote change on this planet.
He modified the complexion of the sport Saturday afternoon for the Warriors in a 53-13 victory over Champaign Centennial within the first spherical of the Class 6A playoffs.
The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Billups-Williams had eight catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns for Crete-Monee (8-2), who will play in opposition to Simeon (10-0) at 1 p.m. Saturday within the second spherical at Gately Stadium in Chicago.
So, he desires to work on a few issues within the coming years — making it to the NFL’s draft day and carrying the cap and robe in incomes a diploma.
“That would be a big deal to make my family proud,” Billups-Williams stated of graduating faculty. “If I do that, it’s going to make me happy, and they will be happy. It’s a win-win.”
Speaking of profitable, Billups-Williams has been serving to the Warriors do loads of that these days.
They misplaced their first two video games of the season to Lincoln-Way East and Andrean earlier than occurring an eight-game profitable streak, together with an ideal Southland Conference end.
On Crete-Monee’s first offensive play Saturday, senior quarterback Cory Stennis discovered Billups-Williams open for a brief go and he turned it right into a 73-yard TD.
“He does everything,” stated Stennis, who accomplished 22 of 29 passes for 383 yards and 5 TDs. “He has speed. He can get open. He can catch everything.”
For the season, Billups-Williams has 69 catches for 1,504 yards and 20 TDs. He additionally has 13 carries for 134 yards and two TDs. Last 12 months, he had 82 catches for 1,433 yards and 14 TDs.
Crete-Monee coach John Konecki noticed Billups-Williams play on the grade college degree for the primary time and was impressed.
“As a junior high football player, we knew he was something special,” he stated. “Then we met him and he had all of the bodily attributes, which have been actually spectacular.
“As time marches on, he has gotten better and better with his football acumen.”
Billups-Williams can be harmful as a defensive again and a returner on particular groups.
A 3-sport athlete who performs basketball, he joined quarterback/receiver Joshua Franklin, defensive again/receiver Edward Clark and graduated sprinter George Safo within the spring and received the Class 3A state title within the 800-meter relay.
Stennis enjoys throwing passes to speedsters Billups-Williams and Franklin in addition to Carmello Steele.
“We can open up the playbook,” Stennis stated. “We want to make sure everybody touches the football.”
Stennis, a Rich Township switch, began the season as a receiver however took over for Franklin, who damage his shoulder in opposition to Andrean after which got here again as a receiver.
Billups-Williams stated the important thing to the success as a receiver is the connection with the quarterback. He has that with Stennis.
“You have to make sure you have chemistry with your quarterback,” he stated. “You have to make he knows what you are doing or what spot you are going to be at.”
Jeff Vorva is a contract reporter for the Daily Southtown.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com