Ijenea Wooley, Baytown Lee QB
In 2018, Wooley – who broke the school single-game record for passing yards with 513 against Vidor – accounted for most of the positive plays for the Ganders.
The Baytown Lee offensive unit finished as the best in District 12-5A-DII last year, averaging 450.8 yards per game.
Wooley, who was named the District 12-5A-DII Offensive MVP at season's end, finished passing for 2,439 yards and 24 touchdowns, while rushing for another 877 yards and 12 scores.
"I'm really glad he's on our side," Baytown Lee coach Tim Finn said with a chuckle. "He's a triple-threat kind of guy. He can throw it; we can design runs for him and he can also make something out of nothing. "His explosiveness is obvious on video, but you wouldn't guess it by just talking to him. He's really instinctive. He is all about playing the game of football."
THE NEXT CHAPTER
When talking with a football player about his dreams for the future, the NFL will usually come up as the ultimate goal.
Not for Wooley.
"I want to be a special-education teacher," Wooley said. "I love being around people with Autism. Just seeing them smile brightens up my day."
Wooley, who also would like to be a coach, wants to teach special-needs children because he has a personal connection to the cause. His six-year-old cousin, Qua'Asia, who has autism motivates him to follow this path.
"She can't say anything, but she can say my name," Wooley, whose first name is French, said. "That motivates me. I want to be around that, I love that.
"I want somebody to help my cousin. So, why not help other kids? I know some people don't want to do it. It's a hard job. It takes a lot of patience."
