The phone conversations between former Texas high school coach Andy Evans and Texas Tech football player J'Koby Williams often veer away from sports, though this fall, the football's been a good place to start.

Williams, the Red Raiders ' mighty mite sophomore , leads the Big 12 in all-purpose yards, mind-boggling perhaps given that only two years ago he was playing Class 2A high school football in a town of, according to the most recent census, 722 people.

How would you describe Beckville?

"My hometown?" Williams said this summer. "One stoplight, one gas station, a Family Dollar, and a taco shop."

In early November, Williams was named one of six finalists for the Paul Hornung Award, which is presented annually to the major-college football player who exhibits the most versatil

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