By Rubin E. Grant
For as long as he has been playing sports, Homewood quarterback Will Myers has received some meaningful instruction from his dad.
“He taught me be a leader, do my best and help others,” Myers said. “He said those three things are very important.”
Myers’ dad, Scott Myers, executive director of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, knows from experience. Scott Myers played defensive back and quarterback at Hewitt-Trussville High School and played defensive back at Samford.
It’s because of his dad that Will Myers became an athlete.
“I’ve known I would play football my whole life,” Will Myers said. “Growing up I’ve always played quarterback. I played some free safety, but once I got to high school I stuck to quarterback.”
Myers also has aspirations of playing football at the next level.
“I’m hoping to play somewhere in college,” he said. “I’ve gone to visit Troy, North Alabama and Auburn, but no offers yet.”
A 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior, Myers took over as Homewood’s starting quarterback this season, looking to fill the sizable void left by Woods Ray. Homewood coach Ben Berguson described Ray as a “once-in-a-generation player.”
During the 2022 season, Ray threw for 2,646 yards, completing 62.1% of his passes (181-294) with 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also ran for 812 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning All-State honors and leading Homewood to a 10-3 record and a Class 6A quarterfinal playoff appearance. Ray is now a freshman at Dartmouth.
Despite Ray’s accomplishments, Homewood coaches said they have not noticed Myers feeling any pressure trying to replace Ray.
“Will has always played the quarterback position and in basketball he plays point guard,” Homewood offensive coordinator Heath Bruner said. “The only pressure he has is the pressure he puts on himself.
“He’s a very mature young man. He understands what Woods did and the expectations of playing quarterback at Homewood. He embraces that. I think that’s motivated him to be the player he is. He’s a fierce competitor.”
Myers said he is just focusing on the job at hand.
“Woods was a great player, but I am not thinking about him,” Myers said. “I’m trying to do what’s best for myself and the team.”
From Myers’ perspective, that’s being a leader.
“I describe myself as a leader on and off the field,” he said. “I think I’m a good runner and my passing has improved throughout the year, so I think I’m a dual threat.”
Berguson gives a similar assessment of the Patriots’ quarterback.
“He’s probably one of the best leaders I’ve ever coached,” Berguson said. “He can walk into a room and take control. It’s the same when he plays. It’s like having a coach on the field. When the lights come on, he’s a different beast. He’s elusive, a good runner, and he’s good at extending plays.
“He’s a student of the game. He’s constantly watching film. Any time I’m at school, he wants to come up. He’s definitely a football rat. If I come up on Saturday to wash laundry, he’s here. On Sunday, when (we) start planning for the week, he’s here. Any time I unlock the door, Will is here.”
On a Roll
Homewood opened the season with a stunning 36-31 loss to John Carroll Catholic, got shellacked 43-0 by rival Vestavia Hills and suffered a 31-17 setback in their Class 6A, Region 3 opener at Helena.
Since then, the Patriots have reeled off four consecutive wins, including a 34-13 victory against Chilton County last Friday in a region game at Waldrop Stadium. Myers was sensational, rushing for 108 yards and four touchdowns and completing 23 of 29 passes for 215 yards with an interception.
“It was rough starting off the year, but it’s gotten better,” Myers said. “We’ve got a lot of players making plays. The receivers are playing well, the running backs are doing their jobs and the O-line has been great.”
On the season, Myers has completed 102 of 147 passes for 1,234 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions, and he has run for 350 yards and nine TDs.
Bruner is pleased with the way Myers has progressed since the season began.
“Obviously, at the beginning of the year he was not every experienced,” Bruner said. “We came into the year looking forward to him doing good things in the running game and he did. As a passer, he’s progressed. He now has a good understanding of the routes and space.
“He gets the ball to where it needs to be and he understands defenses. He’s an intelligent player. He has a great understanding of space and he has a great relationship with his receivers. I don’t think that’s by chance but a lot of hard work during the offseason.”
Homewood (4-3, 3-1) will play host to Pelham (4-3, 1-3) Friday in another region game. The Patriots can clinch a playoff berth with a victory.
“I think we’re definitely a playoff team,” Myers said. “I think we can finish (the regular season) on a seven-game winning streak.
“The first few weeks we were playing as individuals. Now, we’re playing together on offense and defense. We’re playing as a group.”
