Raycine Guillory is one of the best high school running backs in the state with a goal of helping the Aledo Bearcats win a third straight state championship - and a 13th overall. He fears no defense, giving the Bearcats faithful plenty to cheer about, such as when he scored six touchdowns recently in a win over Richland.
There is, however, a time not too long ago when he was anything but excited. His electrifying moves squelched by a knee injury that sidelined him for several games last season, including most of the playoffs.
He had offseason surgery, and with that came the dark period as he worked to recover.
"It was hard. I got depressed. I had a lot going on mentally," Guillory, a junior, said. "I started praying and giving it to my Lord and saviour. I don't know how I got through it without him."
While the vast majority of athletes bounce back successfully following knee surgery today, the mind will play games with the person experiencing the injury. Such was the case with Guillory.
"I didn't know who I was without football," he said.
Football had been a part of his life since he was 3 years old.
"My dad had me walking around the barber shop when I was little, saying '1, 2, 3, hut!'" he recalled with a chuckle.
His father, Raycine Sr. owns the famous Lonnie's Barber Shop in Fort Worth, which was started by Raycine's grandfather. Raycine Sr. was also a standout running back in high school before switching to defensive back at Louisiana Tech.
Guillory was always described by others as a good guy, but during his recovery he said he nonetheless did some soul searching, especially while being in the hospital. It was enhanced by some additional complications that he said extended his post-surgery stay.
"I realized life is precious. I'm a better person because of it," he said. "I wanted to be a person who brings joy, I had to be - and not just with the football.
"Getting out of that struck something in me. It made me a better person - and a better football player and teammate."
He said it also made him a better team leader.
"I'm more vocal. I'm gonna speak up, if I like or don't like something," he said. "I also got a big lesson in patience."
Guillory said he'd never thought before the injury about the possibility of not being able to play. Suddenly, that being the case, like being reunited with a lost love, he realized what was taken away.
"Every game I'm grateful," he said. "Once you're out, you're out. There's no time machine to go back."
Guillory had never suffered a serious injury before.
Along with battling the depression, Guillory underwent a hard physical rehabilitation. However, for someone who was used to leaving defenders shaking their heads after a move that also made their jaw drop, the process couldn't go fast enough.
Then, one day his dad joined in.
"My dad made me get up early one morning. He had set up some cones," Guillory said. "I started going in between them, making some moves I do on the football field. After that, I knew I was coming back."
Guillory is being pursued by many big-time universities and has around 40 NCAA Division I offers to play college football. He verbally committed to the University of Texas after his sophomore season, but then withdrew that commitment and is still weighing his options.
"It's a process. It's narrowing down, but then, another one comes through the door," he said.
He plans to study communications and wants to enter the broadcasting industry some day - after his professional playing days are over, of course.
"I will play pro. I feel like I'm meant to play," he said. "People might say I'm cocky, but it takes confidence to reach your goals. If you're not confident, you won't get there."
He would join former Bearcat Jase McClellan in that capacity. McClellan, after a standout career at the University of Alabama, was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons and has seen regular-season game action this season.
"If he goes to a school where he'll continue to get even better and becomes what he's capable of becoming, I might be looking for a Ray Guillory jersey to hang in my office," Aledo head coach Robby Jones said. "I'm getting a Jase Guillory one also."
Last season Guillory rushed for 1,207 yards and 17 touchdowns while catching 10 passes for 175 yards and four more scores. This season he appears poised to surpass those numbers as, through nine games, he has 1,039 yards and 19 TD rushing, with eight catches for 118 yards and two TD receiving.
"This season's great. To be able to come off a season-ending injury and produce like I have, it feels great," he said.
There's only one thing that would make it even better, he said, smiling. That would be not only winning state, but being able to play in the game.
Last season he watched as his former teammate, Hawk Patrick-Daniels, now a standout at Tyler Junior College, was named Offensive MVP in the Bearcats' state title game victory.
"When we're playing in Jerry Jones World, they'll know Raycine Guillory was there," he said. "We're going to have a party."
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