Patrick Willis

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Patrick L. Willis (b. January 25, 1985 in Bruceton, Tennessee) He is currently a senior starting inside linebacker for the Ole Miss Rebels football team, and one of the top prospects for the 2007 NFL Draft.

[edit] High School

Willis attended Central High School. There he was Class "A" Mr. Football in Tennessee, a two-time All-State selection, Regional Most Valuable Player, West Tennessee Player of the Year, and Mr. Central High School. He earned 4 letters in football and basketball and 3 in baseball. He was also the first person in Tennessee state history to be nominated for both Offense and Defense for the Mr. Football Award in the same year. He left high school as a two star recruit on Scout.com.

[edit] Ole Miss

In 2003, Willis played in all 13 games as a freshman, making 20 stops. He received the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame.

As a sophomore in 2004, he appeared in 10 of 11 games, earning honorable mention All-SEC honors from The Associated Press, and recorded 70 tackles with 11 for a loss of yardage.

In 2005, as a junior, he was named a First Team All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com and the All-American Football Foundation. He also earned First Team All-SEC honors from Associated Press, SEC Coaches, CollegeFootballNews.com and Rivals.com. He was a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award and was rated as college football's #2 overall player by CollegeFootballNews.com. He recorded 128 tackles (90 solo), in 10 games started.

So far in the 2006 season as a senior, he has had 112 total tackles (74 solo) through 10 games. Before the season, he received the Chucky Mullins Courage Award. He was named pre-season first team All-American by Athlon, Lindy's, Nationalchamps.net, Rivals.com, Playboy, Blue Ribbon College Yearbook, Phil Steele, The Sporting News, and The Kickoff. For his efforts in 2006, he was awarded first team All-SEC, first team AP All-American, and the winner of the prestigious Dick Butkus Award, given to the most outstanding linebacker in college football for the year 2006.