Patrick Willis

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=San Francisco 49ers
currentnumber=52
currentposition=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1985|1|25
birthplace=Bruceton, Tennessee
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=242
debutyear=2007
debutteam=San Francisco 49ers
highlights=
* Conerly Trophy (2006)
* Butkus Award (2006)
* Pro Bowl selection (2007)
* All-Pro selection (2007)
* AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2007)
college=Mississippi
draftyear=2007
draftround=1
draftpick=11
pastteams=
* San Francisco 49ers (2007-Present)
statweek=2
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=187
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=4.0
statlabel3=Interceptions
statvalue3=1
nfl=WIL618736

Patrick L. Willis (born January 25 1985 in city-state|Bruceton|Tennessee) is an American football linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers 11th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Mississippi.

During Willis' senior season at Ole Miss, he won the 2006 Butkus Award. A year later during his rookie season with the 49ers, Willis led the NFL in tackles, was voted to the Pro Bowl and was named the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. [ [http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080104/SPORTS/80104013/1287 The ClarionLedger: Patrick Willis named AP's top defensive rookie] ]

Early years

Willis attended Hollow Rock - Bruceton Central High School in Bruceton, Tennessee. He was a two-time All-State selection, Regional Most Valuable Player, and West Tennessee Player of the Year. 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 the Mr. Football Award for a Lineman (as a linebacker) and the Mr. Football Award for a Back (as a tailback) in the same season. According to signonsandiego.com, Willis' high school basketball coach, Chris Finley, and his wife, Julie, became his parental guardians when he was 16, after years of neglect by his biological father. Willis' brother, Detris, drowned in 2006 while swimming with his friends.Fact|date=March 2008

College career

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 every game, 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 "College Football News" 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 rated as college football's #-8 overall player by "CollegeFootballNews". He recorded 128 tackles (90 solo), in 10 games started.

In his senior season in 2006, he totaled 137 tackles (87 solo). 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, "Blue Ribbon College Yearbook", Phil Steele, "The Sporting News", and The Kickoff. For his efforts, he was awarded SEC Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-SEC, consensus first-team All-American, and the winner of the prestigious Dick Butkus Award, given to the most outstanding linebacker in college football for the year 2006. He also won the Conerly Trophy, voted upon by the media in Mississippi and awarded to the best college football player in the state.

During his college day at Ole Miss, Willis twice ran a 4.37 40-yard dash. However, at the 2007 NFL Combine he ran a 4.49 40 yard dash; still a remarkable time for a player at his position, and good for any position on the field.

Professional career

Willis was selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 11th overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, re-uniting him with the staff that coached his South Squad at the 2007 Senior Bowl. He is coached directly by Hall of Fame middle-linebacker Mike Singletary, and starts at inside linebacker, specifically the "Mike" position, in the 49ers' 3-4 defense.

In his first NFL game, Willis recorded 11 tackles, including 9 solo, and a forced fumble as the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals in dramatic fashion by a score of 20-17. For his effort, he won the Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week Award. One of Willis' strongest performances came against the Minnesota Vikings, as he led the 49ers defense in containing Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson, who managed just 3 yards on 14 carries. "I got hit pretty hard and glad that he's (Patrick Willis) on the NFC team in the Pro Bowl", Peterson stated in the post-game press conference. Willis' most impressive statistical performance came in week 16 at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In this game he recorded 20 total tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 pass deflected in a 21-19 victory, earning Rookie of the Week honors for the fourth time. In addition to receiving the award in weeks 1 and 16, Willis took home the award in weeks 2 and 12. He was also awarded the GMC Defensive player of the Week twice.

Willis finished the 2007 campaign with an NFL-leading 174 total tackles, along with 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 passes deflected. As a result, Willis was one of two 49ers selected to the Pro Bowl along with punter Andy Lee. Other honors earned at the conclusion of his first professional season included being named the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, and First Team All-Pro by the Associated Press. He was the only rookie in the NFL to make the AP All-Pro squad and the first Defensive Rookie from the 49ers to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott in 1981. His season was capped by being named one of ESPN The Magazine's "NEXT" athletes of 2008, alongside Yankee Joba Chamberlain and Trail Blazer Brandon Roy.

He ended his rookie season with 174 Tackles, 4.0 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 7.0 Tackles at a loss, and 5 Passes Defended.

In his Second NFL season he scored his first career NFL touchdown, on an 86 yard return of an interception, off a deflection.

Willis is sponsored by Under Armour and is featured in many of the company's advertisements.

References

External links

* [http://www.olemisssports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=12787&SPID=737&DB_OEM_ID=2600&ATCLID=542726&Q_SEASON=2006&KEY=&DB_OEM_ID=2600&DB_LANG=&IN_SUBSCRIBER_CONTENT= Ole Miss Rebels bio]
* [http://sf49ers.com/team/roster_detail.php?PRKey=126&section=TE%20Roster San Francisco 49ers bio]
* [http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=8&c=1&nid=223044 Scout.com profile]
* [http://thestartingfive.wordpress.com/2007/04/28/butkus-award-winner-patrick-willis-love-and-loyalty/ Interview with Michael Tillery of "The Starting Five"]
* [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/nfl/20071031-1627-fbn-49ers-willis.html] Article with SignonSanDiego.com