Nick's Players to Watch: Patrick Willis, LB, Mississippi

[Nick]

Name: Patrick Willis
Position: MLB/SLB
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 232 lbs
40-Time (approx): 4.65 sec.
School: Ole Miss
Class: Senior
Projected Round (as of post time): 1st
Full Bio: Here

Why You Should Like Him

• First Team All-American in 2005
• Rated preseason first team All-American and No. 1 inside linebacker in the nation by The Sporting News, Lindy's and CollegeFootballNews.com
• Named to Watch Lists for the Bednarik Award, Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy
• Led the SEC in total tackles at 12.80 per game (6th nationally)
• Started 10 games at MLB and accumulated 128 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass-break-ups, two QB hurries, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception
• Showed toughness by playing through a broken middle finger on his right hand, a sprained left knee, a right mid-foot sprain and a partial AC joint separation of his right shoulder
• Played most of the year with a large white cast (see picture) covering right hand

Why I Like Him

• Plays middle linebacker in college but has the speed and athleticism to move to outside linebacker in the pros, a position many Rams fans wanted the organization to address early in the 2006 draft
• Shows great toughness and leadership ability, specifically by playing through injury
• Is a tackling machine who is always around the ball, wraps up well, and moves well sideline to sideline
• Big hitter
• Holds his ground against blocks
• Solid in coverage
• Involved in community service

Check Him Out

• Willis makes a huge tackle

[RamsFan16]

I agree. This guy is going to be a stud. He led the nation in tackles per game while playing with a broken hand, a sprained left knee, a sprained right foot, and a partial seperation in his right shoulder.