John Tyler quarterback Geovari McCollister (3) has thrown for 2,029 yards and 17 touchdowns this year. (Lang White | Correspondent)

Given his size, John Tyler quarterback Geovari McCollister is an imposing figure to opposing defenses.

If the 6-3, 205-pound senior wants to run the ball, he’s going to take a few tacklers to bring him down and only after he gains 4 or 5 yards.

But a year after leading the Lions in rushing, McCollister has become more of a field general, leading his team with his arm and his experience as much as his legs.

“Last year I was just an athlete; I was just running around making a lot of plays, using my feet a lot,” McCollister said. “Now I’m using my arm a lot more.”

McCollister, in his second year under center, has thrown for more than 2,000 yards for the second straight season. He’s increased his accuracy slightly to 66 percent and has improved his touchdown-interception ratio from 3.7 to 5.7.

While his individual yardage numbers are slightly down (34 yards passing, 36 yards rushing less per game), McCollister has helped power the Lions to four more points per game.

Though some of that offense has come from a defense and special teams that has scored 74 points, it’s also come down to the decision making of McCollister.

“He’s protecting the ball a lot better than he did his junior year,” JT coach Ricklan Holmes said. “He’s understanding that he is the leader of this team right now and a lot of responsibility comes with being the John Tyler quarterback.”

McCollister, a Central Arkansas commit, attributes his growth in the passing game to his experience playing 7-on-7 over the summer, when he learned to really read defenses and watch for habits of defensive backs.

“I just grew a lot as a passer,” McCollister said. “I mean everybody knows I could run, but a lot of people wanted to see me throw the ball. So I just had to grow a lot as a passer, grow a lot standing in the pocket, not trying to use my feet so much and give these other kids chances to make plays.”

The “other kids” include a strong receiver corps that has only improved as the season has progressed. Varsity veterans Nick Cain (37-451), Duntayviun Gross (35-472) and Rodney Bendy (22-365) provide a steady stream of recipients while sophomores Damion Miller and Bryson Smith have come on strong of late.

“We all know how to play the game of football, we all know when it’s time for us to make plays and when it’s time to let somebody else make the play,” McCollister said.

Added Holmes: “It makes you real comfortable back there knowing the athletes we have at the perimeter with Bendy and Cain and Duntayviun Gross, those guys right there at the edge. If he can get it to them, we can make anything happen.”

Life has also been made easier for McCollister by Jeremy Wilson, John Tyler’s first 1,000-yard running back since current San Francisco 49er Kendall Hunter. Wilson also provides another outlet out of the backfield with 22 receptions.

“It’s crazy because we haven’t had a 1,000 running back rusher in a good minute,” McCollister said. “So with him bringing that element to our offense, they can’t just key on me or key on some of my receivers now because they have to worry about him running the ball.”

With Wilson carrying more of a load, McCollister hasn’t had to take as many hits. McCollister ran the ball 200 times last year, a number that’s down to 114 this year. Though he was banged up slightly against Ennis a month ago, he’s been able to work his way back to health with the aid of Wilson and backup quarterback Smith.

“That’s something that we’re going to need going into the playoffs because he’s our guy,” Holmes said. “He’s the guy that’s going to have to take us to AT&T Stadium and he has to be 100 percent healthy for us to do that.”

LIONS TALES: Tickets for the John Tyler-Texas High game will be sold on campus to students and faculty today during all four lunches and Friday during the first two lunches. Additional ticket sales will be at the TISD athletic office (807 W. Glenwood) today from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and from 8 a.m.-noon on Friday and at Tyler Athletics (5520 Old Jacksonville Hwy) during regular business hours today and Friday. Presale tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for students. Gate tickets cost $8 for general admission.

 

Geovari McCollister Stat Box

Class: Senior. Position: Quarterback. Height: 6-3. Weight: 205

Passing: 147-224 (66%), 2,029 yards, 17 TDs, 3 INTs.

Rushing: 114-404, 3 TDs

College: University of Central Arkansas commit

Quotable: “He’s a big guy to try to tackle. One person’s pretty much not going to bring him down. … Then when the pocket does collapse, those arm tackles aren’t going to bring him down; he’s still going to stand tall in the pocket and deliver the pass.” — JT coach Ricklan Holmes