Armwood quarterback Jameel Williams wanted a winner, an offense that fit his skills and a school close to home. In Bethune-Cookman, he found all of that and more, and he announced his plans to be a Wildcat on Wednesday.
"It's just a great place," Williams said.
Williams, a two-time Class 4A championship game MVP, picked B-CC over The Citadel, Georgia Southern and Rhode Island. Each of those programs had a lot to offer, he said, but B-CC's proximity to home _ it's in Daytona Beach _ pushed it past the others.
"I really want my mom to come to my games," Williams said. "That's what sold me."
Williams (5-11, 175) never lost a game in his two seasons as Hawks starting quarterback. As a junior he rushed for more than 1,500 yards. Last fall he passed for 842 yards and 16 touchdowns (with one interception) while rushing for 721 yards and 13 TDs. In a 49-21 state final win over Lakeland Lake Gibson, Williams passed for 142 yards and rushed for 139.
"He did a better job distributing the ball (as a senior)," Hawks coach Sean Callahan said.
B-CC runs an option-type offense similar to that of Armwood, but the Wildcats place a greater emphasis on the pass.
"They need his type of skills," Callahan said.