Who Is This FL High School Legend in the Photo? Willie Green

[OldSchoolLion]

Who am I and where did I play in high school?  What team did I help beat in the state finals?

[Guest]

Willie Green    Osceola    Beat Estero 

[OldSchoolLion]

It is Willie Green of Osceola High.  He ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns against Estero in the 1998 5A state title game.  Green stood 5 feet, 9 inches, and weighed 190 pounds. He often drew favorable comparisons to his biological father, also named Willie. The elder Green ran for 19 touchdowns and more than 1,500 yards his senior year at Osceola High in 1979.

Willie Jr was one of the nation’s top running backs at the time and was named USA Today’s Player of the Year for the state his senior year. Over his high school career he rushed for 7,947 yards (at the time 2^nd in Florida history behind only Emmitt Smith) and 107 touchdowns (a state record).  Multiple knee surgeries and a broken foot hindered his college career.   After his football career ended at the University of Florida, some poor life choices landed him in prison. 

[Nolestrong]

He did make some bad decisions after his college career, but he has rebounded like a champ. His son graduated from Osceola HS in 2017 which he was very involved in. He has since married and is expecting a child any minute, he has spent many hours with the youth in Osceola County discussing the positive impact that sports can have on your life. Willie has spent many hours over the last couple years doing free football camps for the youth in Osceola County. He is doing his best to give back to Osceola County! Thank you Willie Green.

[OldSchoolLion]

5 hours ago, Nolestrong said:

He did make some bad decisions after his college career, but he has rebounded like a champ. His son graduated from Osceola HS in 2017 which he was very involved in. He has since married and is expecting a child any minute, he has spent many hours with the youth in Osceola County discussing the positive impact that sports can have on your life. Willie has spent many hours over the last couple years doing free football camps for the youth in Osceola County. He is doing his best to give back to Osceola County! Thank you Willie Green.

That is great to hear and really appreciate you sharing with us.  "Giving back" is a great way to heal/recover.