Where to play Wally? York junior is a football weapon wherever he lines up

The York Cougars were last seen walking off the field at Columbia’s Williams-Brice Stadium in November after a hard-fought 4A state championship loss to Spartanburg.

The 2015 version will be noticeably different, with play-makers Deshaw Andrews, Daurice Simpson and Kyron Schrouder topping the list of standouts that graduated.

A lot of Cougars return, though, including versatile junior Wally Wilmore.

Wilmore took advantage of the opportunities afforded him in 2014 as a slot receiver, running back, quarterback – and seemingly every other position on the field – to compile an impressive array of statistics. He hauled in 97 passes for nearly 1,200 yards last season, finishing as one of three Cougars with a combined double-digit touchdown total (10). Many of those receptions came as a slot receiver, and despite the presence of fellow wideout Shandon Cobb (33 receptions, 342 yards, five touchdowns in 2014) and others, he will likely see opportunities to stretch the field in some one-on-one situations down the sidelines.

“This year, they’re moving me around, so I’m not just focused on slot receiver. Last year, I really didn’t play outside at all, but this year I’ve gotten a lot of reps at outside receiver,” said Wilmore on Tuesday night. “In slot, you can run a post, corner, out, slant, anything. Outside receiver, it’s a little bit easier to get your matchups one-on-one.”

That flexibility will serve Wilmore and the Cougars well in 2015.

“We’re going to have to use him in a lot of different places. There’ll be times he’s quarterbacking, he’s going to be a (defensive back), he’ll be a wide receiver, he might be a running back,” said York coach Bobby Carroll. “He’s a punt returner and a kickoff returner. He’s got great multi-directional speed.”

Carroll presented a favorable comparison to another local and national talent.

“(Stephon) Gilmore that we had at South Pointe when I was over there, linear speed-wise sometimes, he didn’t look all that fast, but (he had) multi-directional speed. You throw that 2008 (South Pointe) state championship on there and watch that kid run, and Wally’s got a lot of those same attributes. Hopefully, he’ll continue developing.”

Wilmore has a bevy of big-name college programs interested, including North Carolina, but he needs to get a little bigger. Carroll thinks the offers will pour in if he can bulk up a bit from his current size of 6-feet, 160 pounds. Carroll estimated 20 additional pounds of muscle would make the difference.

Wilmore said he likes playing on both sides of the ball, and much like Simpson, he will also be called upon in the defensive backfield. The star junior will use his expertise as an offensive player to help further stabilize the Cougars’ pass defense.

“They want (defensive backs) that can put that foot in the ground and they can accelerate and break on balls, and he’s got that,” said Carroll. “He’s got a good knack of reading offenses from being a quarterback, because he understands concepts.”

The departures from last year’s club also left a considerable leadership void, and both Wilmore and Carroll are quick to point out that it won’t be one player alone taking the helm.

“We’ve got more leaders now,” said Wilmore. “Jaevion Matthews, Nick Sturgill, Jamar Griffin … Paul Moore, he’s a big role model to a lot of people. He’s (Moore) one of our hardest-working guys.”

“I think he understands what he’s got to do to help this football team and to be a leader in the weight room and on this field,” Carroll said about Wilmore. “The times if he does slack off, we make it known that you’ve got to go, that other players are watching you. He understands that, and he’s a good team player.”

Assistant coach Tim Boyd echoed those sentiments.

“Wally has stepped up this year and is trying to be a vocal leader and a physical leader,” Boyd said. “The guys, they flock to him. He’s a good guy and a team player, and a lot of guys flock to him, so that’s really good to have on our team.”

Wilmore has battled a hamstring injury through camp, but mentioned he should be ready to play Friday, when York takes on Ridge View in the Bank of York Scrimmage. Carroll mentioned that Simpson suffered a similar injury last year, and played through it for the entire season.

As for that walk off the field at Williams-Brice last year, Wilmore plans a return trip, with what he hopes will be a better outcome.

“We’re ready to play. We’re coming back to state. Let everybody know that.”

This story was originally published August 12, 2015 at 1:59 PM with the headline "Where to play Wally? York junior is a football weapon wherever he lines up."