JaTorion Dillard finished seventh on Hopkinsville’s all-time rushing list despite missing his junior season with a knee injury. Despite the setback, Dillard had a productive senior season that paid off Thursday when he signed to continue his football career at Kentucky Wesleyan College in Owensboro.
Dillard burst on the scene as a freshman, rushing for 756 yards and seven touchdowns. His breakout season was as a sophomore in 2016 when he carried the football 116 times for 827 yards and 13 touchdowns.
In his final scrimmage his junior year, Dillard tore his ACL causing him to miss the entire season. It was bittersweet for Dillard as Hopkinsville got hot at the end of the year and advanced to the region championship game before losing to Franklin-Simpson.
Dillard used the injury as motivation and returned to rush for 724 yards and six scores his senior season.
For his career, Dillard ran for 2,307 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also proved to be a productive receiver out of the backfield with 17 career catches for 189 yards (11.1 yards per catch).
Hopkinsville’s coaches raved about Dillard’s character and work ethic at Thursday’s signing at the school. They agree that will help him make the adjustment to the college game.
Kentucky Wesleyan is coached by former Kentucky standout Craig Yeast, who has made a commitment to signing players from Kentucky, especially western Kentucky, to the Panther roster.
