North Chicago senior quarterback Dy’Zhir Usher may follow in coach Wilton Hill Jr.’s footsteps.
Hill was the quarterback for the playoff-qualifying Warhawks in 1999 and is a firefighter/paramedic for the city.
“I’ve been taking firefighting classes and even an EMS class,” Usher said. “I’m really interested in saving lives, and my coach being a firefighter, it motivated me that I can do it. It’s a lot of traumatic stuff. I have to be mentally strong for it. It can be mentally tiring.
“It’s helped me with football. I know I have to be a leader, lead the team by doing the right things, like in a fire. On the field, I have to lead my team — to get the win and be better.”
Usher might not be putting out fires yet, but he’s excited to put his leadership skills to the test this season. He headlines a group that includes seven returning starters on each side of the ball for North Chicago (3-6, 2-5), which opens the season at Zion-Benton on Aug. 29.
“The guys look up to him because of the way he carries himself,” North Chicago assistant Maurice Young said. “He’s basically like a coach on the field for us. He sets the tone for the team and makes sure everyone is locked in.”
The Warhawks’ triple-option offense also revolves around the 5-foot-9, 185-pound Usher, who has already shown big-play ability as a runner. He has worked on improving his passing skills to become a more complete quarterback in his second season as the starter.
“Dy’Zhir running the ball is very dynamic, and he has a lot of success running the ball out of the quarterback position in our triple option,” Hill said. “He causes a lot of problems for other teams.
“This year we’ve been working on getting him more comfortable making passes and playing within the pocket. This year he has more confidence and knows what to expect within our system and seeing different looks from the defense.”
North Chicago senior Michael Grayer, a two-way lineman, has watched Usher grow into the role.
“Dy’Zhir has improved a lot on passing and decision-making,” Grayer said. “He leads the team well by making sure everyone works hard.”
Young is impressed with Usher’s progress too.
“He’s taken a big step forward,” Young said. “He’s a lot more comfortable and relaxed in the pocket, which has made a big difference. Going to a few quarterback camps over the summer really boosted his confidence, and you can see it in the way he’s throwing the ball. His accuracy and decision-making both have improved.”
Usher, who also plays basketball and runs track, credits his coaches for preparing him.
“My coaches have really helped me because I was so new to quarterback last season,” he said. “It was tough. I never commanded a team like that before. I had to be mentally stable and ready for anything and have my emotions levelheaded.”
As the fourth person in his family to play for North Chicago, Usher wants to lead the team to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
“Most of the team has known each other a long time and have a good connection,” he said. “I feel extremely great about the offense. The O-line has gotten better, and the wide receivers and running backs are way better and faster.”
That offense starts with Usher.
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
