Warren’s Liam Wiley is like all athletes. He has an origin story in his sport.
Family tradition can pave the way for some, and years of tutelage in youth leagues is another common path.
Wiley, however, took a very different route to starting at linebacker for the Blue Devils.
“I lost a dare with my friends before freshman year,” he said. “It started out as a joke, and we still talk about it all the time. But I ended up being pretty solid at it, and I’ve loved it ever since.”
Wiley, who also plays baseball, started out as a receiver for two years in Warren’s lower levels, was converted to linebacker this season and was elevated to a starting role for the North Suburban Conference opener against Libertyville in Week 3.
Watching the 6-foot-2, 170-pound junior seamlessly flow back and forth in stuffing the run and moving quickly into the flanks to contest passes during the Blue Devils’ 35-14 road loss against Lincoln-Way East in a Class 8A state quarterfinal on Saturday, it was apparent he belonged.
“He’s a really long, athletic kid,” Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. “He’s a big linebacker, but he’s athletic enough to cover receivers. He’s a really big asset, and I don’t think he understands yet how good he can be.”
Splitting out to mark receivers isn’t something linebackers typically are adept at doing, but it’s a good fit for Wiley with the Blue Devils (10-2). He said he overcame a bout of nerves early in the season to become a dependable playmaker.
“I slip a lot into a safety/linebacker spot, and it’s fun,” he said. “I’ve progressed a lot in ‘man’ this year, learning tendencies, and also blitzing off the edge.”
Wiley said his favorite part of playing defense is “rocking someone,” but he flashed those improved coverage skills in Warren’s playoff-opening win against Stevenson with a nifty interception.
“That was probably my favorite play of the year,” he said. “I was in ‘man,’ and I covered a slant, and I read it and dropped right under it and picked it.”
More Top Picks Best Bathroom Faucets For Granite Countertops
Wiley’s development makes sense on an athletic level. His older brother Luke was all-state in cross country for Warren and runs at North Carolina. Their father swam at Michigan State and has run multiple marathons.
“My brother has been a stud at running his whole life, and having that in my family helps,” Wiley said. “But I work hard too.”
That has certainly come across to his teammates. Senior safety Cassius Callahan remembers being wide-eyed with a bunch of seniors playing around him last season. So the fact that Wiley has already exhibited a steady work ethic resonates with him.
“Liam is a very motivated player, and he’s always working hard,” Callahan said. “He’s always asking questions about how he can get better in all types of situations. He always talks about how he can get better too. There’s more to come for him.”
Wherever that yearning for improvement comes from, it’s seldom far from Wiley’s mind. He already has areas picked out where improvement will pay dividends.
“I definitely want to put on some weight for next year,” he said. “I’m kind of a light linebacker. I have the height, but I’ll be right back in the weight room.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.