HS Football: Willis Head Coach, Trent Miller, Gives His Thoughts and Praise to Bishop Jr.’s Commitment

WILLIS, TX -- Following the nationally covered commitment of Jermaine Bishop Jr. to the Texas Longhorns, Wildkat Head Coach Trent Miller shares his thoughts on the monumental move that heightens the talent ceiling for the Willis area.

Bishop Jr.'s commitment to the University of Texas follows numerous commitments by the football program to the Division I level of the NCAA. 

A player like D.J. Lagway made a national splash during his senior year, having already picked the Florida Gators. But names like Jalen Mickens and Romel Stevens highlight the consistent level of talent present in the Wildkat program.

“It’s definitely a good feeling having another high-caliber national recruit player for the 2nd time now in our three years,” said Miller. “I think it proves the talent that this town is capable of producing and has produced for years.”

The opportunity to lead a team with players such as these is a blessing that Miller is thankful for. The development of the Willis program under his leadership and the continued establishment of culture through the coaching have led to a once-in-a-lifetime gift of talent.

“Two National recruit spotlights that played on the same team is not something that happens often,” said Miller. “And a lot of coaches will coach their entire career and not have that, so it is not something we take for granted. We count our blessings and thank God every day for the opportunity.

But not everything was smooth sailing during the recruiting process. The eyes of more than 20 schools descended on the Wildkat program for the second time in two years, with national brands trying to make meaningful connections.

The pressure of trying to accommodate and hear the perspectives of these D-I programs is a lot for adults to handle, but asking a high-schooler to handle their business in the classroom, socially, and on the field while listening to those at the next level is a massive challenge.

“The national attention is always nice, but can get tiring and overwhelming at times for the kids,” explained Miller. “So many phone calls, texts, conversations and visits from all of the coaches in the country can be extremely overwhelming for a 16-year-old kid.”

Luckily for Bishop Jr., the support system at Willis has proven its capabilities in managing the situation. Help from coaches and families in the area has helped the process smooth out and reach the positive conclusion of years of work.

“The process is fun but taxing, especially when you know that everyone is watching your every move, waiting to jump on you when you fall or slip up,” said Miller. “I think this process has helped Jermaine and D.J. in the past prepare themselves for what it will be like when they get to the big stage and will prime Jermaine for those situations like it did for D.J.”

The next step for Bishop Jr. will be a senior year that looks poised to be successful. With another tremendous offseason of hard work and a District MVP season in 2024, the Wildkat product has the opportunity to exceed his already lofty achievements to become immortal in Willis Football history.