Former Bradenton Prep standout enrolls at Southeast
Former Pats RB Jared Williams appeals to FHSAA seeking his football eligibility
By ALAN DELL - [email protected]
BRADENTON - In three years at Bradenton Prep, Jared Williams gained more than 3,800 yards and scored 55 touchdowns.
With the school shutting down its football program last week, the 17-year-old hopes the Florida High School Athletic Association will clear the way for him to gain more yardage. Unfortunately, that likelihood might be tougher than any opponent he’s had to face on the field.
Williams recently enrolled at Southeast High, but due to FHSAA transfer rules, he is unable to play for the Seminoles because he was initially enrolled at the Prep Learning Center - formerly known as Bradenton Preparatory Academy - this school year.
Williams has filed an appeal with the organization that is scheduled to be heard by the FHSAA Section Appeals Committee on Oct. 7 in the Manatee County School Board building.
His father, Walt Williams, athletic director at Prep, initiated the action because he said he felt it was the right thing to do.
The school cancelled its football season after playing two out-of-state games and left about 20 players without a team, according to Walt Williams. Whether those two games will affect any ruling is unclear.
"I feel what happened is not the fault of the children," Walt Williams said. "This is something that is between adults, and the children deserve an opportunity to play. Some of these guys are seniors, and they didn’t make the choices that put them in this situation. The parents made the choices for them to be in certain schools."
If the 5-foot-10, 195-pound Williams was to get a favorable ruling at the hearing and be eligible, he would have missed the Seminoles’ first four games, but he would not miss any of Southeast’s four-game district schedule, which begins Oct. 8 against Braden River.
Paul Maechtle, Southeast’s long-time head football coach and athletic director, would not comment on the matter.
Denavaris Thornton, FHSAA Associate Executive Director for Compliance and Eligibility, would not talk about the specifics of the case, but responded in an email to the Bradenton Herald: "There aren’t any rulings regarding student-athletes at Bradenton Prep. A general ruling cannot be made because every student has a different set of circumstances, and it would be handled on a case-by-case basis. The FHSAA has communicated with the school district regarding this issue.
Thornton went on to say in the email: "The Association asks all parties involved to please work with their schools and school representatives for any matters that arise, and not contact the FHSAA directly."
Walt Williams said many of the former Prep players have enrolled at schools throughout Manatee County, but he was not sure how many would file an appeal, noting that was between them and their parents.
Regardless of the ruling, Williams said his son has been offered football scholarships to West Virginia and Florida International that will not be withdrawn.
Jared Williams ran for more than 1,900 yards and 27 touchdowns last season and has been timed at 4.49 seconds in the 40-yard dash, his father said.
"I am going to be speaking with the West Virginia coaches and also speaking more with FIU and other schools who contacted us," Walt Williams said. "Those are the only two official offers, but there are going to be more in the next week or so. If Jared can’t play, he is going to train hard, do what he has always done and be prepared to move onto the college level.
"But I don’t want people to think this is just about my son. I am the athletic director here and believe all those kids should get a chance to play if that is what they choose to do."
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