Wylie High School QB signs with BYU

Wylie, Texas— A Pirate becomes a Cougar

2017 Wylie High School graduate Stacy Conner has signed with Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and heads up for school and spring training this month. Cougar head coach Kalani Sitakie, Assistant Head Coach Ed Lamb, and Offensive Coordinator Jeff Grimes are anxious to receive the 6’6’, 195 lb. freshman. Stacy is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Conner, 17, son of Cedrick Record and Natonya Conner, played QB for three years at Bishop Dunne High School, a private school in Dallas, before relocating to Wylie his senior year where he threw the ball and caught it a little when a couple receivers went down and got hurt.

When asked about his most memorable games at WHS Stacy had two, the games against Lake Highlands and McKinney Boyd. Lake Highlands because it was his first win at Wylie and McKinney Boyd for a more personal reason, “Even though we lost that game [McKinney Boyd], that was the first time I ever jumped over the [defensive] line and scored the touchdown. It was at the three-yard line and one of the highlights of my high school career.”

Beyond the thrill of the competition he recognizes things he is learning and traits he is developing that he can apply to his life off the field too. “Football has taught me patience, and confidence, is key. Everything in life is not going to come as you want it. You have to wait for things to come. And you always have to be confident in yourself. We had ups and downs this season, but my confidence keeps me going so I was able to still play the game at a high level.”

WHS Head Football Coach Bill Howard said, “Stacy came to our program and worked very hard, he was a team player who has a very big upside. Size, speed and a very good arm. Stacy has an opportunity to showcase his talent at the next level and be as successful as he wants to be.”

How did Conner and Brigham Young decide they were a good match for each other? Stacy tells how he ended up picking BYU from the thirteen other offers he had.

“During that time, I committed to UNLV, but later decided it wouldn’t be the best fit for me, so I decommitted. Earlier in the year my dad had emailed one of the coaches at BYU and the coach said they were full at quarterback. Then early in December they reached back out and invited me to come and visit the school. So, I flew up to Provo, and it was the time of my life! The coaches, the players, it was a group I could see myself being around. I felt like it was a great fit for me. At BYU everyone was happy, everyone was welcoming. It was a no-brainer to commit to the school.”

Asking if he was ready for the next level of play, Stacy shows no hesitation in saying yes, but he says, “They want me to put on about 35 pounds.” He hopes to wear #12 at “the Y”. It’s the number he wore at Wylie High School.

Stacy is the oldest of five children, so he knows about setting a good example on and off the football field and in the classroom; for not only his own brothers and sister, but younger kids who look up to athletes. When asked what advice he would offer to them he replied:

“Basically, just keep your head on straight. Maintain focus. There are a lot of kids in our society now that get off track and start doing the wrong things, and the next thing you know they end up in trouble, and then you may not be able to do the thing that you really want to do, like play football. That’s one thing that I think football has done for me. With my Dad being so strict on me about playing football, making me work out constantly, it kept me out of trouble.”

Brigham Young University is a top tier school with strict and high academic requirements. How will Conner be able to balance the rigors of both football and classwork?

“Academics always comes first. Without the grades I can’t do anything else. That’s going to be my main focus. I won’t be able to play if I don’t have the grades. I’ll be able to maintain my academic focus because of the kid I know I am” he said, “And I don’t get into trouble or party or stuff like that. I’m a fun talkative person, but when It comes down to business, I’m all business.” With Physical Therapy the career path he is interested in right now, Stacy will have to be focused.

Conner loves the game of football and hopes after a successful career at BYU to pay professionally. “I want to go to the NFL. I’m going to work my hardest and do everything I need to do to make it to that level. I’m just going to have to maintain focus. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. Watching all the quarterbacks I’ve seen since I was a kid, Kurt Warner, Ben Roethlisburger, Tom Brady, all of the great quarterbacks. And other players too. Larry Fitzgerald was one of my favorite receivers. But he was also one of my favorite players because of what he does outside of football in the community. The foundation that he has. It has inspired me to play the game too, so I can do those sorts of things for others.”