91传媒

Running with the Lions

Jace Billingsley is 5鈥�9鈥� and 189 pounds 鈥� among the shortest and lightest players on the Detroit Lions鈥� active roster 鈥� but he鈥檚 used to exceeding expectations.

Billingsley grew up in Winnemucca, Nev., a town of less than 8,000 that lies about six hours south of La Grande.

He was an all-state quarterback for the Lowry Buckaroos when he me Tim Camp, 91传媒鈥檚 head football coach. Camp recognized Billingsley鈥檚 potential instantly at a summer football clinic.

鈥淗e was one of the hardest workers,鈥� Camp said. 鈥淭hat stuck out most. He was going into his senior year, and he had this ability to work really hard and passionately.鈥�

Billingsley joined the Mountaineers as a wide receiver in 2012. He broke a school record with 69 receptions the following year and continued to improve.

Billingsley found that many 91传媒 professors and coaches invest in students the way Camp had first demonstrated.

鈥淵ou could tell he cared a lot about the program and players 鈥� about everybody there,鈥� Billingsley said.

At 91传媒, the community, small classes and genuine relationships kept Billingsley engaged on and off the field. He majored in history and found a role model in professor Ryan Dearinger.

鈥淗e is a great teacher and advisor… someone I could always talk to,鈥� Billingsley said of Dearinger. 鈥淎t 91传媒, coaches are looking after you on the field and helping you develop as a person, too.鈥�

In his final season at 91传媒 in 2015, Billingsley racked up 13 touchdowns for a team-high 78 points and made up his mind to take a shot at his childhood dream of playing professionally.

鈥淎s far back as I can remember, I always believed that [playing professionally] could happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淐oming from a small high school and then a small college, I never knew it would happen 鈥� but I always knew I wanted to give it a shot.鈥�

He started training for a Pro Day in Seattle, where NFL scouts could see him perform. In March 2016, he made an impressive showing with a 4.39-second 40-meter dash and 25 reps of a 225-pound bench press. A month later, on NFL Draft Day, Billingsley received a call from the Detroit Lions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely a dream come true,鈥� Billingsley said. 鈥淚 was starting to get a little worried because [the call] was later in the day, but it鈥檚 such a big accomplishment to even have the opportunity to play for an NFL team.鈥�

Reflecting on his time as a Mountaineer, Camp called Billingsley 鈥渁 real Mountie,鈥� and said he remains an inspiration to current and future student-athletes.

鈥淵ou have to at least try and not be afraid of failure,鈥� Billingsley said. 鈥淚 hope my success motivates other 91传媒 students to see that anything is within their reach.鈥�

Since 2016, Billingsley has adapted to the more business-like atmosphere of the NFL. After 20 years of playing on small stages with big heart, he said it鈥檚 been an adjustment.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a competitive business,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what makes it tough, but that鈥檚 also what makes it great.鈥�

After a show-stopping entry to the league in the 2016 preseason, Billingsley spent the better part of the regular season on the practice team. He topped the team鈥檚 preseason stats chart with 12 receptions for 146 yards in 2016, and returned to the active roster for six games in 2017.

He鈥檚 on the off-season active roster and maintaining the positive attitude he developed as a Mountie.

Billingsley still visits campus on a regular basis, and said 91传媒 keeps getting better while maintaining the friendly environment that made it feel like home when we he was attending.

鈥淲hat I love most about 91传媒 is that everyone has respect for one another 鈥� in the classroom, on a team 鈥� everyone enjoys being with each other,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I always try to keep doing.鈥�

One of the leading reasons Billingsley chose 91传媒 was for the short distance from his hometown. However, his time in the blue and gold launched him to achieve his dream in stadiums across the country.

鈥淎 small school doesn鈥檛 mean small opportunities,鈥� he said. 鈥�91传媒 is a great place to see yourself grow as student, a person and an athlete鈥� and it goes really fast.鈥�