STARKVILLE — Willie Gay walked off the football field slowly after a intense conditioning session Monday night.
It wasn’t the first time he had worked out or ran this summer. He has been hitting the weight room with enthusiasm and running to prepare himself for the grind of his final high school football season in the state of Mississippi.
If Gay has needed any motivation, he can look ahead to playing football at the next level. Gay’s ability to focus on a bigger prize has helped him tackle the challenge of draining two-and-a half-hour sessions like the one he experienced Monday night.
“Spring was really when it started,” Gay said. “I kept it going from spring into summer, summer workouts. I’m trying to stay top-notched, so when it’s game time I can be at my best. That running is going to pay off.”
Although the ultimate prize is another state championship and to an opportunity sign at the college of his choice, his hard work has already paid off. The Starkville High School linebacker has accepted an invitation to play in the United States Army All-American Bowl at noon Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017, (WTVA) in San Antonio, Texas. The game will feature 90 of the top recruits across the country. The players will be split into two teams in an East-versus-West format.
Gay, an Ole Miss commit, said it is a privilege to play in the game.
“When I got it, I was very excited and happy,” Gay said. “It was a blessing. I was hoping for it, praying for it.”
Gay helped Starkville beat Petal for the 2015 Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 6A State championship. The four-star recruit had 84 tackles (17 for loss), six sacks, and four interceptions as a junior.
Gay is the third player Starkville football coach Ricky Woods has coached to play in the game. The other two, Chris Strong and Derek Pegues of South Panola, went on to play at Ole Miss and Mississippi State, respectively.
Woods isn’t surprised Gay was invited.
“I think that’s a good one for him to play in,” Woods said. “It’s a really good bowl. I’m proud for him, and he’s deserving.”
Gay committed to Ole Miss on June 17. He also had offers from Mississippi State, LSU, South Carolina, and Michigan, among others.
Gay doesn’t expect to hear from other All-Star games like the Under Armour All-America Football Game and the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. He is happy to have received an invitation to the United States Army All-American Bowl and is ready for the challenge.
Gay attracted attention last season, but he elevated his game midway through the season. Woods saw a different attitude from Gay, which carried over into the spring and summer. As a result, he expects big things out of his most experienced linebacker.
“When you get bigger, faster, and stronger, you’re just going to have more confidence to be a better football player,” Woods said. “He’s strong, he has a great attitude, and is just an athlete. He’s playing with a lot of confidence, and confidence is about 90 percent of this game. He just needs to keep on getting better and playing hard.
“I think you should be at your best your senior year. I hate to say, ‘Save the best for last,’ but if you progress you should be better your senior year. He’ll have his best year this year.”
Last season gave Gay confidence, but he also saw some things he needed to work on.
“I’m being a more aggressive linebacker,” Gay said. “Being able to come up and make tackles in the hole, I noticed I was able to do that in the spring. I’m a lot different player than I was last year.”
Gay said he worked out six times a week, five at the least during the spring and summer.
According to 247Sports, he is the 12th-best linebacker — ninth-best outside linebacker — in the 2017 recruiting class. But that’s not good enough for the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Gay, which is why he welcomed long days in the spring and summer.
“I really want to be the No. 1 linebacker in the country, you know on the outside,” Gay said. “I love being in that position, but my goal and my dream has always been to be the best in the country and be known nationwide.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Ben Wait on Twitter @bcwait
Ben Wait reports on Mississippi State University sports for The Dispatch.
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