LONG BEACH — Long Beach Poly senior linebacker Dylan Williams is a young man on a mission.
“I want to prove a point that I’m one of the greatest linebackers to come through Long Beach Poly and one of the greatest linebackers to come out of the state of California, so this senior year is really a statement year for me,” Williams said.
As a junior, Williams had 79 tackles and a team-high 25.5 tackles for loss in 11 games. Poly finished the season with a 10-1 record.
“(He’s bringing) energy. You see his ability to close on the ball and you don’t see it that often to be very honest,” said Long Beach Poly coach Stephen Barbee, whose team will begin the 2023 season Friday night with a game in Hawaii. “He’s a playmaker. He’s moving from an outside position last year to middle linebacker (this season) and he’s going to be that guy.”
“I feel like the defense is really looking up to me to be a leader, really take over, so I’m trying to step up to that and show my young guys a bigger, better way,” Williams said. “(I’ve been) running extra with the guys, just pushing everybody and really trying to step up.”
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker committed to Oregon for football last month. The four-star recruit is excited to enroll early next year.
“They have an amazing coaching staff (at Oregon) that can develop me to get to the next level,” Williams shared. “That’s my biggest thing. I love football and I just want to play ball.”
However, he’s not taking his chance to help lead Poly football for granted.
“I’ve seen a lot these past two to three years at Poly,” Williams explained. “From my sophomore year going all the way to CIF (Southern Section Division 4 title), going to the regional game (at Serra), about to go to state, to my junior year going 10-0 (in the regular season). I know a lot. I’ve played with some of the best players in the country, one of the greatest corners (Daylen Austin) to come through Poly last year. My sophomore year, played with one of the coldest (defensive ends Donovan Poe) to come through Poly, so I’ve been playing with a lot of great guys.”
Like the great Poly defensive players that have come before him, Williams wants to leave a lasting mark and become a dominant force at 1600 Atlantic Avenue.
“I know my junior year was a big year for me, a coming out party, but I feel like my senior year is my statement year, getting ready to go into college in January,” Williams said. “I feel like this is a statement year for sure.”
Long Beach Poly senior linebacker Dylan Williams on leadership and legacy. @Dwill_2024 is committed to Oregon football. @LBPoly_Football @CoachSBarbee @CoachSingh77 @MsMayraSanchez pic.twitter.com/JkhyFCpYBt
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 8, 2023
Darius Curry: There is only one goal
Poly senior quarterback Darius Curry is also steadfast in his belief that his high school football journey, which included recovering from a season-ending knee injury as a sophomore, will end with a state championship.
“We’re trying to win state. That’s the only goal there is,” Curry said.
As the team’s starting quarterback, he wants every one of his teammates to know he has their back.
“It’s going to start somewhere and I feel like that somewhere can be me,” Curry said. “I can be the one that my teammates lean on when times are hard. The one they call on when they’re feeling low, just someone they can always count on. I feel like I can be that for them, for every single player on both sides of the ball, offense and defense.”
The three-star recruit had a sensational junior year in his first season as a full-time starter. The 6-foot signal caller threw for 3,007 yards, 38 touchdowns and only four interceptions in 11 games. Curry completed 68.3% of his passes and ran for 125 yards and five touchdowns.
“(He’s) the best quarterback in the nation. His numbers are incredible,” Barbee said. “His competitive nature is unbelievable and he is cool under pressure. You don’t see him waver. You don’t see him up or down, you’ll see him excited but he’s taking the coaching, he likes to be coached and he truly wants to get better every single day.”
“I just want to improve,” said Curry, who is committed to Colorado State for football. “Last year, I did good but not as good as I could have done, so this season, there’s a lot to work on… I really want to improve upon my leadership because I feel like I can do anything on the field, so bringing the stuff from off the field onto the field has made me a better player overall.”
The Press-Telegram All-Area and all-state quarterback is excited about the possibilities that Fort Collins, Colorado, has to offer.
“It was a good overall experience (during my official visit),” he explained. “It had a good feeling to it and it’s giving me an opportunity to go out and showcase my talents and be able to start my freshman year.”
Long Beach Poly senior quarterback Darius Curry on being the type of leader every player on his team can depend on as they pursue a state championship. @dariuscurry1_ is committed to Colorado State. @LBPoly_Football @CoachSBarbee @MsMayraSanchez @QBCoachWilliams @CoachSingh77 pic.twitter.com/kFGOukE3At
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 8, 2023
Poly’s season opener Friday in Hawaii
Poly will begin its season Friday at Konawaena on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is the first out-of-state game for Poly under Barbee, who is entering his sixth season as the team’s coach.
It is also the trip of a lifetime for several players, according to Curry.
“It feels good to see the faces on some of these boys because a lot of these boys haven’t left Long Beach, so for them to get a good experience will just mean a lot and it feels good…,” Curry said. “It’s a good cause taking people out of the city with all the stuff they go through and putting them in paradise for a couple of days.”
It is also an opportunity for the storied program’s legacy (20 CIF-SS titles) to write its next chapter.
“We get to show and really put Long Beach back on the map,” Curry added. “We get to show them what Long Beach Poly football is about.”
Poly’s nonleague schedule includes a neutral site game against Bishop Gorman at Nike World Headquarters’ campus in Beaverton, Oregon, on Aug. 25. The Jackrabbits will also face Mission Viejo on Sept. 1 and will be at Serra on Sept. 8.
Poly begins Moore League play at Lakewood on Sept. 15.
Long Beach Poly football coach Stephen Barbee on @LBPoly_Football opening the season on Friday in Hawaii. @CoachSBarbee also breaks down the impact of 2024 QB Darius Curry (@dariuscurry1_) and 2024 LB Dylan Williams (@Dwill_2024). @presstelegram @InsideSoCalSpts pic.twitter.com/yW5ZU3GO6G
— John W. Davis (@johnwdavis) August 8, 2023
