Okemos graduate earns a “dream” spot on MSU’s football  roster — in a roundabout way

Okemos High School Football Coach Brad Lilly took his struggling Okemos football program to an open Michigan State football practice on Aug. 23 that led to a “dream” opportunity for a former high school football player, Liam Carr.

Carr, who graduated in spring 2021, chose to forego playing football to pursue his dream school, MSU. Carr was a former captain at Okemos high. Now, Carr can go to MSU and play football, thanks to Lilly.

“ I tell our players all the time life is about relationships,” Lilly said.

After losing over half his team Lilly was seeking some guidance and reached out to Thomas Wiltcher, director of Community and High School Relations for MSU football. Wiltcher invited the Okemos football program to the “Meet the Spartans” event on Aug. 23, hoping to inspire young athletes.

“The excitement and enthusiasm it can bring to a team to go out and watch a team move fast makes you more reflective on what you want to do in your high school,” Wiltcher said.

While at “Meet the Spartans,” Lilly connected Carr with Wiltcher. After losing his aid, Wiltcher was in need of an assistant, and Carr gladly took on that role.

“The opportunity to support the team in any way I could meant everything to me, I was excited and ready to help out in any way I could,” Carr said. 

When Carr accepted the position as an assistant there were no open spots on the roster, but that changed at the last minute as MSU decided  to hold walk-on tryouts.

“He was ready,” Wiltcher said of Carr who earned a walk-on spot on MSU’s football roster. “He didn’t have to get ready. He responded and did whatever it took to get there.” 

“This opportunity meant everything to me,” Carr said. “Growing up I always had wanted to play football at the Division I level, and I chose MSU because I was willing to bet on myself.” Carr said.

With the Okemos high school football program struggling this season, seeing Carr move on to the next level is a big victory for this program.

“All of our victories are not going to be on the scoreboard this year, so we celebrate victories like this one,” Lilly said. 

Lilly’s team currently has a 0-5 record this season after their former head coach accepted five weeks ago a job with the Michigan’s State Police before the start of the season. 

“Football is a game that mirrors life, there are things that we are always going to face like struggles and adversity but it is how we respond to those things that really shows our character,” Lilly said.

Lilly hopes this life-changing opportunity inspires the next generation of Okemos football players as they continue their season. Click here to see their schedule. 

“Anytime you’re in the position to change someone’s life and make an impact on someone, you have to be happy about what you’re doing. He changed my life because he gave me the opportunity to do something special,” Wiltcher said.