The term ‘Swiss Army knife’ has entered American sports’ pop culture as a metaphor for a person’s usefulness and adaptability.
It’s meant as a compliment for an athlete’s ability to excel in many different scenarios.
The Citadel slot receiver/running back Jay Graves-Billips is aiming to fit just such a profile. The rising redshirt junior has worn many different hats for the Bulldogs during his first three seasons in the program.
The Citadel’s coaching staff believes that Jay Graves-Billips (19) is ready for a breakout season.
The 5-11, 185-pound Mobile, Ala., native has been used primarily as a slot receiver, but can play running back and in a pinch can be used as a quarterback in the wildcat formation.
If you need someone to run downfield on special teams and make a tackle, Graves-Billips can do that as well.
“Jay is a jack of all trades, our Swiss Army knife,” said Citadel coach Maurice Drayton. “He’s very valuable because he can do so many different things for us on the field. We know we can put him in different situations and he’s not just going to get the job done, he’s going to excel.
“He can play slot receiver, running back and he’s a good enough route runner and pass catcher to line him up on the outside as a wide receiver.”
Graves-Billips has put up modest numbers during his first two seasons on the field for the Bulldogs. He has 21 career receptions for 280 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 328 yards.
Drayton is convinced that Graves-Billips is ready for a breakout season.
“We need to get Jay the ball more,” Drayton said. “He has the ability to make people miss in open space and while he’s not a high-end speed guy, you never see him get tackled from behind on film or on the practice field.
“We need to get him into more one-on-one matchups, especially against linebackers, and we can do that when he lines up in the backfield. We want to showcase him more this season.”
Graves-Billips was signed under the previous coaching staff, but his role in the Bulldogs’ new spread option offense has changed little over the past two seasons.
“We’re still going to be a triple-option offense, we’re going to run the ball,” Graves-Billips said. “The spread option offense we’re running now is very similar to what we were doing before, but I think this system will give guys more opportunities to make plays in space.”
Getting Graves-Billips more opportunities will mean generating more chemistry with new quarterback Johnathan Bennett.
Bennett, the former Summerville High School star, transferred to The Citadel from Liberty in January. Bennett and Dustin Fletcher, who missed most of last season with a concussion, have been especially sharp during spring practice.
“JB and Dustin are throwing dimes out there every day,” Graves-Billips said. “They are both having great springs, moving the offense, getting into the end zone. It’s been fun to watch them do their thing.”
Despite the Bulldogs' 0-11 record last season, Graves-Billips said spring practice has been upbeat.
“Last year didn’t go how we wanted, but everyone is bringing the energy every day at practice,” Graves-Billips said.
One of the reasons for the team’s optimistic outlook for next fall can be traced back to Wednesdays, the day Drayton has dubbed ‘Bulldog Bonding’ for the team. Most the cadets have ‘general leave’ on Wednesdays, but the football team has stayed back at the campus to take part in team-building exercises like kick ball and dodge ball tournaments.
“We’re getting to know each other on and off the field, which is going to make us tighter as a team,” Graves-Billips said. “It’s mostly competitive stuff, but coach Drayton also has done a good job of teaching us life lessons as well.”
While Graves-Billips has plenty on his plate to keep him busy, he’ll also be serving as a military captain for the football team.
“It’s a really important position,” Drayton said. “He’ll be our liaison between the Corp of Cadets, the school and the football team. He’s been that kind of leader for us on and off the field.”
