Football, Family, Future: Baytown Lee's Wooley talks football and more

ASK IJEANA WOOLEY TO TELL YOU HIS BACK STORY. HE WILL AND IS PROUD TO DO IT. The Baytown Lee senior has pride in his voice whenever he tells people he comes from Houston – to be exact "Third-Ward, Texas".

The environment he grew up in was rough. There was a lot of murders and gangs but it was his mother, Helen Griffin, who helped shelter him from the negativity and mold him into the man he is today.

"I couldn't thank my mom enough for raising me the way she did," Wooley said. "I thank her for sacrificing everything for me. I couldn't thank her enough. Everything I do is dedicated to my mom. I want to 'make it' to make sure my mom doesn't have to work again."

Football didn't become a sport for Wooley until he reached the sixth grade. Before that, it was basketball. Football took full hold when he moved with his father to Baytown.

"I sacrifice so much just for football because I want it. I want to go get it for my family," Wooley said. "I like getting hit. I love it. That's the best part – getting hit and getting up for the next play."