Elkhart coach Sam Wells knows all about great running backs.

Jeffrey Wilson, currently a star for the University of North Texas Mean Green, once was an Elk, an All-East Texas player and an All-Stater. In two seasons as a starter, Wilson rushed for more than 5,000 yards, finishing with 5,078 yards and 59 touchdowns for Elkhart.

Well, Wells has another special player in senior running back D.J. Williams.

Williams rushed for an incredible 476 yards and six touchdowns on 45 carries in the Elks’ 52-45 win over Whitney on Friday.

For his performance in Week 9, Williams was named the Class 3A Ford Built Ford Tough Texas High School Football Player of the Week.

For the first two years of his Elks career, Williams was an all-stater as a linebacker.

Wells and his coaching staff felt they needed his talents on offense as a senior.

Good move.

In eight games, Williams has rushed for 1,537 yards on 216 carries. That is 7.1 yards a clip. He has 12 rushing TDs. Williams also has three catches for 65 yards and a TD reception.

This is the first year for the 5-9, 190-pounder to rush with the football.

Also, Williams is not just a football sensation. He is an all-district basketball player and a regular qualifier in both sprint relays (4×100, 4×200).

The owner of an 87 GPA average, he also greets elementary school students when they arrive at school and he coaches and officiates youth flag football games.

“This kid is simply sensational,” Wells said. “I met him in the eighth grade, and, although he still had to develop, you saw immediately what kind of work ethic he had. Though it’s his first year at running back, you can see that he’s getting better every week. He’s a tremendous leader, both on our football team and at our school. You just know that this young man is going to do great things in his life. He has a brilliant future.”

The Elks (5-3, 3-2 in District 9-3A Division I) have two more regular season contests – Friday at Groesbeck (3-5, 2-3) and a Nov. 4 matchup with No. 3 Malakoff (8-0, 5-0) at Jerry Ives Memorial Stadium in Elkhart. Both games have 7:30 p.m. kicks scheduled.

When Has the time gone?

Volleyball playoffs are getting underway.

A District 17-5A seeding match between Lindale and Corsicana is scheduled for Friday on Leon Spencer Court at Cardinal Gym on the Trinity Valley Community College campus.

The match has a 4:30 p.m. start.

Tickets will be $4 for students, $3 for students and $2 for senior citizens.

@PhilHicksETFS