Jimmyll Williams does double duty for Virginia State University, and he handles it quite well.

The versatile freshman from Durham’s Hillside High wears two hats — or rather a helmet and ballcap — for the Trojans.

He showed signs of greatness last fall for the football Trojans and was the baseball team’s leading hitter and base runner this spring.

Pressed into duty earlier than expected last fall due to injuries, Williams rushed for 239 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. He averaged nearly six yards per carry for the 8-2 Trojans. Williams also caught five passes for another 47 yards.

The well-muscled 5-foot-10 athlete figures heavily in Coach Henry Frazier’s plans for 2024.

The Trojans will start Sept. 1 against Benedict, S.C., in the Black Colleges Hall of Fame Classic in Canton, Ohio. Benedict, 9-1 a year ago, is the defending SIAC champion. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and will be televised on the NFL Network. That’s the same game in which Virginia Union defeated Morehouse a year ago.

By then Williams (No. 18 in baseball) will be wearing No. 36 (his football jersey).

On the diamond, Williams was brilliant under Coach Merrill Morgan, leading the team in most offensive categories while playing a highlight-reel outfield.

In 45 games Williams hit .350 with 50 hits including 11 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 23 runs batted in. Gifted with blazing speed, the leadoff hitter stole 30 bases in 32 attempts.

Before enrolling at VSU, Williams was among the state of North Carolina’s top football prospects. As a senior he rushed for 2,258 yards and 23 TDs, helping Hillside to a 13-1 record and the state finals. He also starred in baseball at Hillside and for high-profile travel teams.