Sometimes statistics don’t tell the whole story. Sometimes they do.
A shining example of the latter is the remarkable stats of Connor Willis, who is set to play in the Football BC 2012 Senior Bowl game on Saturday.
Willis is capping a terrific three-year stint as running back for the G.P. Vanier Towhees and will be showcasing his high-energy talents to university and pro scouts tomorrow at the high school football showcase in Langley.
The versatile 17-year-old, who has also played rugby for Canada, has amassed stats that already have caught the attention of coaches at UBC and SFU. In 10 games this year at running back, Willis had 143 carries for 1,400 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a kicker, he booted 29 pigskins for 1,439 yards and 10 touchbacks.
Want more? He caught seven passes for 149 yards and two TDs. He also kicked field goals, punts and PATs, returned kicks, and had 40 tackles and one sack playing middle linebacker.
“In the previous two seasons, Connor was the leading rusher in the league at the SV and JV level,” said Dean Wyatt, Vanier head coach and offensive coordinator who has played a major role in advancing Willis’ career.
“He averaged 16 TDs per season and had a yards-per-carry average of just over 8.5 He is an all-round spectacular athlete who leads by example and is not afraid to carry the weight of the team squarely on his shoulders.”
Wyatt notes Willis was the Towhees’ captain for the last three seasons and the recipient of the MVP award as well as the Raider Cup – the highest award the team gives for on-field leadership, scholastic study, community involvement and overall citizenship – each of those years.
“Connor is 6-feet, 230-pounds and is one of the most talented and coachable athletes I have ever had the privilege of working with in my 18-year career,” said Marc St. Jules, an international sports fitness consultant based in the Comox Valley.
“I would be surprised if this hidden gem from Vanier is not the star of the (Senior Bowl) camp and comes home unsigned,” said St. Jules, who is the founder of Advanced Athletics Training Academy and Fitness Retreat and executive director of Athletes United International.
St. Jules has been working with Willis for the past three weeks preparing him for the Senior Bowl and notes Willis is one of 80 athletes throughout the province selected to attend the March 20-24 camp.
“Connor’s coach and friend Dean Wyatt, aka Big Poppa, approached me and said, ‘Marc, I want you to train this phenom athlete in preparation for the Senior Bowl.’ Dean is the Mother Teresa of minor football here in the Valley and is always doing what he can for the kids,” St. Jules said.
Willis is quick to acknowledge Wyatt for all his efforts on his behalf. “I could never get to where I am today as a rugby or football player if it wasn’t for many coaches helping me get better at both sports. But if it wasn’t for Dean there is no way I would ever be able to have played rugby or football at a high level.
“Dean has paid for countless trips and has helped me and my family pay for many trips for rugby and football. Dean has also spent countless hours putting film together to send to colleges and universities. I can’t thank him enough for everything he has done for me.”
Willis is definitely looking forward to playing the best football players in B.C. tomorrow. “I’m excited to be able to compare myself to players at an elite level. My goals are to start for the West team as running back or fullback and get the award for offensive MVP.”
Willis was first known for his exploits on the rugby pitch, where his considerable skills (more stats: he runs a 4.71 40, has a vertical jump of 21 inches and a standing broad jump of seven-feet, nine inches) had him playing outside or inside centre for Team Canada’s U17 squad that toured California and England.
So why the switch to football?
“I love rugby and what is has done for me and where it’s taken me, but I have to say I enjoy football more. I love the 100 per cent offensive commitment to break tackles and score points as a running back. I’ve always enjoyed scoring touchdowns or trys more than stopping them, so running back is fantastic,” Willis said.
“It was two friends in particular that really shoved me to football. Both Ben Marsh and Gavin McLean really pushed me towards football and I can’t thank them enough,” said Willis.
Marsh, who was also training with St. Jules for the past few weeks, is with Willis this week in Surrey. “Ben played defensive back for us but was selected as a receiver for the Senior Bowl because of his performance at the try-outs,” said Wyatt. “Very good for Ben and we are hoping that everything plays out well for him.” McLean is with Towhee rugby teammate Jordan de Graff competing in this weekend’s prestigious Hong Kong Sevens tournament.
With his prodigious prep career behind him, Willis is looking to post-secondary football for the fall season. “I would love to play for either SFU or UBC, but I will be going wherever I can get the best scholarship,” he said.
“I’ve talked to coaches at both schools and both show interest in having me play for their team. I am obviously very excited but I will have to prove myself at the Senior Bowl to secure a spot on either of there great teams. I’ve sent my transcripts and necessary information for them to check over, so it’s just a matter of them offering me something.”
Wyatt notes Willis is a conscientious student who consistently scores in the 3.5 to 3.75 GPA while balancing sports and work. “Connor will be a shining star no matter where he plays, and with coaching at the next level his game-playing ability will only improve.
“His only flaw is lack of exposure to higher-level coaching, which comes from living where we do, but he is such a quick study the learning curve will be climbed very quickly and his play will be exemplary,” Wyatt added.
