Gerald Willis enters the 2018 season hoping to rebound after sitting out 2017 for personal reasons. The Senior defensive tackle has received rave reviews from the Head Coach of the Miami football team for his play on the scout team last fall and during Spring Practice.
Willis has been lauded as a dominant force and the best returning defensive tackle for the Miami football team for the last year. He was dominant as a member of the scout team during the 2017 season and with the first team defense this Spring.
Willis is a definite starter at one defensive tackle in 2018. Without Willis, the Miami football team would have no stability at defensive tackle heading into this season. Junior Pat Bethel is likely to start alongside Willis when the Hurricanes kickoff against LSU in the season opener September 2.
Graduate Transfer Tito Odenigbo from Illinois, Sophomore Jon Ford and Freshmen Nesta Silvera and Jordan Miller could all figure into the rotation at defensive tackle. Miller is a candidate to redshirt this season. Silvera will definitely play. He is too talented to sit out and the Hurricanes need him for depth.
Willis originally began his collegiate career at Florida. The former five-star recruit joined the Miami football program after being kicked off the team at Florida. Willis sat out 2015 as a transfer and was a backup at defensive tackle in 2016.
In limited playing time in 2016 Willis had 19 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two pass breakups. Willis left the team for personal reasons last season. He eventually rejoined the Hurricanes and was a demon on the scout team.
Miami Hurricanes Director of Personnel Joel Rodriguez a former center on the Miami football team spoke with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald about Willis’ maturation process.
"“Gerald’s issues were never on the field. He was always a really good player who practiced as hard or harder as anyone on the team. His issues were general maturity, making good decisions at the right time.“We are fortunate where we have a locker room that’s really strong, with phenomenal leadership… guys we think are high quality leaders for us. Top to bottom our roster is made up of a bunch of really good kids. That’s really helped Gerald mature. He’s had phenomenal mentorship in the program.“He lives with Demetrius Jackson now and D-Jax is going to be Time magazine Man of the Year one day. Having that positive influence on a daily basis has [helped]. He has matched the high quality output he’s always had with being a higher quality decision maker and overall person.When you live right, things go right for you. He’s living proof of that. Hopefully, that will lead to a long NFL career."
Willis enters 2018 as the player most expected to fill the shoes of departed Juniors R.J. McIntosh and Kendrick Norton. The pair left a year early for the NFL.
The Miami football team also lost primary backup defensive tackle Anthony Moten who graduated. The three departed tackles combined for 93 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and nine pass breakups in 2017. McIntosh tied for the team lead with 12.5 tackles for loss and was second with seven pass breakups.
Because of his year off, Willis has not received any preseason recognition. Based on what the coaching staff and Willis’ teammates have said about the way he has conducted himself off the field and on the practice fields it wouldn’t be surprising to see him land several postseason honors in 2018.
Head Coach Mark Richt spoke to the Miami Student newspaper the Miami Hurricane about Willis’ dominance.
"“He was on scout team all of last year. All last year. He just terrorized everybody every day.”"
This is Willis’ last chance to make an impression with NFL scouts. Miami center Tyler Gauthier backed what his coach said.
"“[Gerald] is an incredible player…He’s fast, he’s strong…he can beat you with an arsenal of moves. If you beat him on his first move, he’s got a second move, a third move and a fourth move. It’s amazing to have ‘G’ back and I can’t wait to see what he does this year."
With the uncertainty and mostly lack of experience at the other tackle spot especially behind Bethel, Willis could see a lot of double teams this season. How he reacts to those from both a playing and emotional standpoint will prove how much Willis has grown during his year off.
The Miami football team needs a strong year from Willis. If he can play as well as the reports indicate he is capable of doing the Hurricanes will have a chance to reach all of their goals.