by JASON GORDON
When William Trevillion arrived at Hays High School last summer, a transfer all the way from Mississippi, he was just hoping to fit in.
Many of the Hays teammates he was joining had known each other for years.
It didn’t take long for Trevillion to become not only one of the guys but a clear-cut leader on a Rebel team that would go on to win its first playoff game in a half-decade.
Recently, the 6-foot, 1-inch, 285-pound senior offensive guard committed to play collegiately at Texas State University in San Marcos. He won’t be able to officially sign until the first week of February in 2013.
There, he will play defensive tackle, a position he filled in at times last season for Hays.
Trevillion had interest from other schools such as the University of Houston, Mississippi State, the University of Mississippi, the University of Memphis, West Virginia University and several others.
Texas State has a renovated stadium and will be playing in the Sun Belt Conference in 2013, which will be the Bobcats’ second year as a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly NCAA Division-I) school.
In 2013, the Sun Belt’s football conference will include South Alabama, Troy, Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe, Middle Tennessee, Georgia State, North Texas and Western Kentucky.
“Playing in the Sun Belt was a big reason I chose Texas State,” Trevillion said. “I still have a lot of family in Mississippi and they will be close enough to some of the schools in the conference to come see me play. It’s also close enough that my Hays teammates can come watch me play some home games in San Marcos.”
Trevillion, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds and bench presses 340 pounds, said he doesn’t think the transition to full-time defensive tackle in college will be a problem.
“I can get to the quarterback real quick,” Trevillion said.
“I can pass rush or stop the run. I’m confident I can do whatever they ask me to at Texas State. Another reason I picked them is I think I’ll get a chance to play right away.”
His teammates at Hays said Texas State got one heck of a player when they offered Trevillion a scholarship to play football.
“He’s a game changer,” said Hays cornerback Christian Rodriguez. “William makes other players on our team better. He pushes them to accomplish more than they thought they could.”
Hays quarterback Caleb Kimbro agreed with Rodriguez.
“There’s no doubt William deserves this honor,” Kimbro said. “I think he’ll have a lot of success at the next level.”
Hays head coach Blake Feldt said Trevillion would thrive at Texas State.
“I think he’ll be one heck of a college football player,” Feldt said. “I’m just glad we get him one more year at Hays. I wish William nothing but the best at Texas State.”