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Sebring's T.J. Williams Followed The Right Path – And His Blockers

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

T.J. Williams has a good reason to smile: The Sebring running back helped carry his team to victories in their last three games, earning him All-Heartland offensive football player of the year honors.

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By Brian Gjurgevich | Highlands Today

Published: January 19, 2008

SEBRING — It wasn't an injury that kept T.J. Williams out of the Sebring football team's first two games.

His knees were fine — his back, shoulders and ankles all in working order.

Instead, the problem that kept Williams on the sideline for what should've been the first two games of his senior season was found under his helmet.

"It was my attitude," said Williams, who was suspended for the first two games of the season by Blue Streak coach Jared Hamlin after skipping practice and not buying in to what the team was doing. "I wanted to be out there. I just asked God to humble me."

When he stepped onto the field for his first game of the season against Okeechobee in week three, Williams was admittedly "antsy," but according to Hamlin, the rest of the team was feeling something far different.

"Everyone's a little more loose when T.J.'s in there," said Hamlin, who also suspended fellow senior standout Sam Robinson for the first two games, in which the Streaks went 1-1. "When he's back there, our kids have confidence. He takes pressure off everyone else."

For his strides — both physical and mental — and showstopping numbers in leading the Sebring football team to three straight victories to close out the season, Williams has been named the Highlands Today's All-Heartland offensive player of the year in a tight race between many talented contenders.

Of course, photo finishes are nothing new to Williams.

"T.J. was our horse all year," Hamlin said. "He was a target all year long, and people knew they had to try to stop him. But he'd get a head of steam going and he was tough to stop."
Williams said there were many highlights to the season, but one acrobatic move in his team's biggest game of the year stood out.

"When I did that flip into the end zone against Avon Park," Williams said, with a grin. "I knew I was going to do it as soon as I got the ball. The landing was kind of hard, but I liked it."

Williams, who's also a varsity basketball starter and member of the track team, said he hasn't had much time to consider college choices, though there are a few schools on his wish list.

"Auburn, Florida, Oregon — anywhere they like to run the ball a lot," Williams said, noting he may play at a junior college to see if he can rustle up interest from a Division-I program. "I just want to play."

The Team

Sam Robinson, senior, receiver, Sebring: Robinson did a little bit of everything for the Blue Streaks this season, and as anyone who followed the team can attest, Robinson did all of it well.
"Sam was all over the field," Hamlin said. "When he touched it, he made big plays."
Suspended for the first two games of the season, Robinson made an immediate impact when he stepped back on the field, acting as a jack-of-all-trades on both offense and defense.
"Sam did pretty much anything we needed," Hamlin said, noting Robinson saw time at quarterback, tailback, receiver, slot, split end, tight end, punt returner and even kicker. "He played everywhere but offensive line."
Hamlin said Robinson wore his love of the game right on his face, and that his joy on the field was contagious.
"Sam's a fun young man," he said. "He always has a good time with what he does, but when it was time to play, he knew how to separate the two. He knew it was time to play."

Chevontray Wilson, junior, running back, Lake Placid: While injuries, suspensions and losses began to pile up for the LP football team, Wilson provided a bright glimpse into the future with his uncanny ability to make defenders miss and leave them behind.
"He's one of those guys who gets into the open field and doesn't look that fast," said Lake Placid coach Tim Grant. "Until he's by you."
Having played football for only two years, Wilson has a bright future ahead of him at Lake Placid, and will likely be a focal point of the Green Dragon offense next season.
"He knows how to play the game," Wilson said. "He may not have a lot of experience, but he also doesn't have a lot of bad habits."

Chris Bower, senior, center, Avon Park: Earned his reputation as a run blocker in his two years in varsity, Bower has shown the kind of leadership that every coach wants in their locker room.
"He's really grown and matured as a football player," said former Avon Park head coach Earnest Perkins. "I was lucky to have his presence in the locker room, and he was a shining example in the class room."
Isaac Fernandez, senior, lineman, Sebring: Fernandez is quiet off the field, but as the lone returning starter on offensive line for the Blue Streaks, he took a leadership role in the trenches.
"Isaac took control and made sure everyone knew their assignments," Hamlin said. "He showed tremendous leadership and everyone looked up to him and respected him because he helped make guys better."

Conlin Veley, senior, quarterback, Lake Placid: Grant says he wishes he could've gotten a hold of Veley a little sooner.
A pure athlete, Veley excels on the gridiron and the hardwood and was a quiet leader for a Green Dragon team that struggled this season.
"I wish I had more time with him," Grant said. "He was one of those guys that didn't say much, but when he opened his mouth, jaws dropped and everyone listened."
Veley's signature game was a 245-yard passing performance against Moore Haven, and though the Dragons went away from throwing the ball toward the end of the season, Veley stood positive.
"He's a strong kid and a great leader," Grant said.

Kyle Jackson, junior, guard, Avon Park: The unsung hero of the offensive line for the Red Devils, Jackson grew into a leadership role on offense and could be seen firing up his teammates on the sidelines.
"He got very little press, much like most offensive lineman," Perkins said. "Kyle will be key to this team's success next season with his pass blocking skills and his knowledge of the game."

Dewey Sebring, junior, lineman, Sebring: The most improved lineman among the Blue Streaks this season, Sebring was one of his unit's top performers by the end of the season and one of Hamlin's top returners in 2008.
"From week one to 10, nobody showed more improvement," Hamlin said, noting Sebring led the team in "pancake blocks." "He's got a fire about him, and it was nice to see him be rewarded and do some great things at the end of the season."

Richard Rooks, freshman, receiver, Lake Placid: The lone freshman on the All-Heartland squad, Rooks made a name for himself by making big catches for the Green Dragons this season.
"Where I come from, freshman don't normally see the field," said Grant. "But I tell you, the more I watched him play, the more he belonged."
The starting tailback for the middle school team, Rooks was used to getting hit, which made him less timid than most players one year removed from eighth grade.
"He played some defensive back for us, too, because he has great hips and can turn and run right with receivers," Grant said. "I think he'll run the ball for us a bit next year, maybe put him at wing a few plays. He'll surprise some people."

Virgil Cooper, junior, utility back, Avon Park: A cape was all that was missing from Cooper, who did it all for the Red Devils in '07. The 5-foot-9, 172-pound utility player started the season as the feature back before moving to quarterback and playing cornerback on defense. He was responsible for 720 yards of total offense for Avon Park during his junior campaign.
"He's a great inspiration in my life," Perkins said. "He didn't everything I asked him to do and was this team's Superman. I'm going to miss him come into his own next season."

Josh Hickey, senior, tight end, Lake Placid: Another standout who saw limited action because of suspension, Hickey more than made up for his time away from the field when he got back on it.
"He can play both sides of the ball, and I can see him at tight end in college," said Grant, who coached also Hickey in the South-Central Football Classic last month. "He's quick and he knows the game."

Coach Of The Year

Somebody forgot to tell the Sebring football team they were out of the postseason chase.
Playing for pride and for next year, Sebring coach Jared Hamlin led his team to three consecutive victories to close out the year, including a 36-14 victory over arch-rival Avon Park. For his leadership, Hamlin is our pick for All-Heartland Football coach of the year.

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