Cadarian Wiley
WILEY HUNGRY TO SHOWCASE WHAT SANDIES HAVE TO OFFER
BY JUWAN LEE
Grapeland Sandies senior running back Cadarian Wiley has had a career most would envy . Two consecutive 1,300-yard seasons , all-state nominations , playoff runs and several tickets to extend his playing career to the collegiate level .
So what ’ s left for Wiley to do in his final year at Grapeland ? Top his previous years .
There ’ s an unsettling belief that Grapeland cannot replicate prior years of success due to the graduation of quarterback BJ Lamb , wide receiver Keizion Ashford and all-state linebacker Cooper Sheridan . But that ’ s only fuel for Wiley to prove doubters wrong .
“ I ’ m confident in where we are right now ,” Wiley said . “ We can prove a lot of people wrong . Who we lost is who we lost . We ’ re here to shock people .”
Grapeland has made the playoffs six consecutive year heading into 2021 . The previous three seasons being headlined by Wiley ’ s combined 3,092 yards rushing and 48 rushing touchdowns .
First-year Grapeland head coach Jordan Woods describes the 6 ’. 0 ”, 180lb . Wiley as “ untackable .” It showed early as a freshman running back on varsity to now being a two-time all-district running back .
“ I ’ ve seen a lot of growth since a freshman being on that field ,” Wiley said . “ I had to find my place . Learn this game . I ’ m big dog now .”
Wiley is embracing the aforementioned “ bid dog ” title . Physically , he ’ s added 10 pounds of muscle .
He understands what comes with that is responsibility of being a leader . And it ’ s not only his teammates who have their eyes fixed on its star running back .
“ I know everybody is watching me now ,” Wiley said . “ It ’ s a big role to fill but as long as I ’ m doing my job everybody will do their job . They work off of my energy .”
Wiley was named as one of Dave Campbell ’ s players to watch . He ’ s had offers from Oklahoma University , Yale and has taken a trip to Texas Tech , which is one of his schools of interest . Yes , the allstate athlete is just as potent in the classroom as he is on the field .
He was top five in GPA for his class last year and earned an award for his studies in US History at Grapeland . Wiley is also taking college courses while balancing being one of the top running backs in class 2A .
“ No matter how much success you have on the field it doesn ’ t compare to what happens in the classroom ,” Wiley said . “ I ’ m so proud and it meant a lot to me to have been able to get some praise for my academic achievements .”
On the field , Wiley wants a second chance at making another run in the playoffs . Last year that were bounced in the first round of the playoffs by Hearne after reaching the regional quarterfinals the year prior . Simply put , for Wiley , “ it hurt .”
“ We have a lot of guys who are going to step into bigger roles this year ,” Wiley said . “ It ’ s on us to prove people wrong about where we are as a team . We plan on making that happen this year .”
“ WE HAVE A LOT OF GUYS WHO ARE GOING TO STEP INTO BIGGER ROLES THIS YEAR , IT ’ S ON US TO PROVE PEOPLE WRONG ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AS A TEAM . WE PLAN ON MAKING THAT HAPPEN THIS YEAR .”