By Gabriella Calabro
Photo by William Wombacher
Ahmad Vappie and Darryl Franklin, two Willow juniors who have been playing football at the varsity level since freshman year, are starting to field college offers.
Ahmad and Darryl both play on the offensive side of the field. Ahmad is a wide receiver, and Darryl is a running back. Over the course of high school, both have put up impressive stats.
“I’ve always known I was a good player,” Ahmad said about starting varsity in ninth grade.
This year is an important one for the two as they begin their third season. The stakes are very high.
“I want to continue my football career in college,” Darryl says.
Both boys, in fact, plan on pursuing their athletic careers after high school. “My dream is to play at LSU,” Ahmad says.
To reach their goals, both athletes have been attending prospect camps, sending out their highlight film, and communicating with college coaches. Ahmad’s personal goals for this season are to “get two stars and some college offers,” while Darryl says his goals are to “reach 1,500 receiving yards and get college offers.”
Balancing school with practices, games, and recovery isn’t easy. Darryl says he receives great encouragement from his team and coaches. He credits Coach JJ, who reminds players that they are “students first,” encouraging them to keep up with their grades and homework.
Ahmad and Darryl face multiple challenges throughout the season. Early on, Ahmad’s biggest challenge was “managing multiple sports, specifically basketball.” Yes, he played both basketball and varsity football at the same time!
To stay focused, Darryl mentally prepares by “locking in on what he practiced before and focusing on learning the plays.” A typical game-day routine for the boys includes waking up early, listening to music, eating full meals, drinking plenty of water, and watching film.
Over the time they’ve played on the Willow football team, the bond with their teammates has become something like a brotherhood. “Everyone wants everyone to succeed,” says Darryl.
Through their careers, they’ve experienced many memorable moments. Ahmad’s most memorable moment came as a freshman at East Jefferson, when he scored a touchdown in his last game of the season, making a play between two defenders. Darryl’s most memorable moment was winning a 7v7 game at LSU’s stadium. The trophy now sits in the school office.
The boys’ advice for younger players is simple: Don’t cut corners, make football your top priority, stay dedicated, take risks, and be willing to sacrifice.
