Jimmyll Williams helps Hillside to undefeated regular season, dreams of studying biotech

If the state championship runs through Hillside High School in Durham, Jimmyll Williams is carrying the rock. The senior running back does a little bit of everything for the Hornets.

"I'm more of an elusive running back," Williams said. "I'm not the fastest, but I'm not the slowest, but I'm not the strongest either. So I kind of have a mix of all of those styles in one."

"He can catch it, he can run it, has great vision," Hillside head coach Ray Harrison said. "He just knows the game of football and plays it very well."

With Williams leading the offense and an elite defense, Hillside finished the regular season undefeated and hopes to win its first state championship since 2010.

"Just go 1-0 every week until December," Williams said. "We are just trying to win a state championship. Put Hillside back on the legacy that it once was."

Williams strives to live to up to the 2010 standard, but also the one set by his brother. Jimuane Williams played linebacker for Hillside and made a deep playoff run of his own in 2016.

"I remember they went to the third round of the playoffs," Williams said. "It's just been a drive for me to be better than him each and every year. It's kind of like my challenger who do I want to be better than each and every day."

Williams is just as competitive in the classroom. He has over a 4.0 GPA, takes college classes, is in the National Honors Society and plans to study biotechnology in college.

"I remember in sixth grade a teacher really showed me what biotechnology means," Williams said. "It had me hooked ever since then. I always knew since that age that's what I wanted to study in."

Williams doesn't have any division one college offers, but has faith they will come with time. He's received interest from schools like Appalachian State and James Madison.

"I don't know what they are waiting on," Harrison said. "Put on the tape."

Williams outstanding play, attitude and academics earned him the WRAL Tom Suiter Extra Effort award.

"He's what we want in our program," Harrison said. "Kid who works hard in the classroom, works hard on the field, great personality. He's a man for the people and I love the kid."