Is a breakout season on tap for Waukegan’s TJ Graddy?
There’s no doubt the 5-foot-9, 145-pound junior quarterback has the talent to turn heads in his second season guiding the Bulldogs’ offense. Graddy is also much more comfortable in the role.
“Last year going in, I was a little nervous, and I didn’t really know if I could play,” he said. “But now I feel more confident and stronger in my ability to play at a high level. I know I can handle it.”
Graddy threw a 19-yard touchdown pass for Waukegan’s first points in its season-opening 22-0 victory against Round Lake last year. But that was the only win for the Bulldogs (1-8), and Graddy missed several games with an injury.
For the season, Graddy completed 24 of 48 passes for 359 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions, and he ran for 35 yards and a TD.
“We got beat up, but I feel like I played OK, and I came out of that thinking that I can compete,” he said.
Graddy’s injury happened on the last play of Waukegan’s 37-22 loss to Mundelein in Week 4. His throwing shoulder wasn’t 100% for the rest of the season.
“I was rolling out, and a guy came up from behind and fell on it,” he said.
Graddy got back into the lineup for Waukegan’s 19-6 loss to Zion-Benton two weeks later, but he aggravated the injury and missed the final three games.
“I ran up the middle, and someone fell on it again, and I couldn’t throw,” Graddy said. “There was a lot going on in that game. I was mad because I thought we could win that game and that I got hurt again.”
Waukegan quarterback TJ Graddy (1) tries to shake Round Lake’s Horbelin Secundino (24) during a game in Round Lake on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (Mark Ukena / News-Sun)
But Waukegan coach Zach Carr saw enough to be bullish on Graddy’s prospects.
“There’s a level of trust with him,” Carr said. “I know he’ll be in class, and I know he’s becoming a leader in how he is around his teammates, and he has all the tools to be a dual-threat player.”
Carr would like Graddy to showcase his running ability even more this season, which begins for Waukegan with a game at Plainfield Central on Aug. 30. Graddy has the instincts to avoid oncoming tacklers and the speed to elude defenders in the open field.
To that end, Graddy worked to become faster during the offseason. He recently recorded a time of 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash at a combine in Arlington Heights.
“On sprint days and non-sprint days, I was always working on technique,” Graddy said. “My biggest strength is my scrambling ability. Getting out of the pocket is a big part of my game. I love running with the ball.”
Graddy also hopes to keep defenses honest with the passing game. He has a solid trio of receivers with seniors Chester Dancy, Devaughn Brown and Dameion Walker.
Dancy was a sophomore in 2022, when Graddy got his varsity introduction as a freshman receiver/defensive back, and has seen the progress that Graddy has made since he became the quarterback.
“He’s evolved a lot and adapted extremely well,” Dancy said. “He definitely can get it out there to us, and if we’re not open, we know he can get yards on his own.
“We all believe in TJ and know we can rely on him to lead this offense.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
