Willis named to Sports Illustrated All-America Team

[Stefan Adams]

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami redshirt senior defensive tackle Gerald Willis III was recognized for his outstanding season with second-team All-America honors from Sports Illustrated, the publication announced Thursday.

A New Orleans native, Willis delivered a dominant final year with the Hurricanes en route to national honors.

Willis started all 12 games and finished with a career-high 59 total tackles, four sacks, one fumble recovery and a whopping 18.0 tackles for loss, the most by any defensive tackle in the FBS.

A mid-season addition the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player, Willis posted five games with at least two tackles for loss and the led the ACC in the category.

Willis' 18 tackles for loss were the most by a Hurricane since Jacksonville Jaguars' Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell had 20.5 in 2006. Willis was named a mid-season All-America by both ESPN and The Athletic.

Willis' selection to the All-America Second Team by SI represents Miami's second straight year with such an honor; safety Jaquan Johnson was named a second-team All-American by the publication last December.

To view the full Sports Illustrated All-America teams, click HERE.

 

[Go Canes!!]

The guy had an unbelievable season. Hats off to him and our staff for sticking with him.

Great ending to the story for both.

 

[ben]

The guy had an unbelievable season. Hats off to him and our staff for sticking with him.

Great ending to the story for both.

Will be rooting for Willis in the pros

 

[jsy]

But he’s not first team all acc
It’s like pulling teeth for the good old boys of the acc to give our players shine

 

[Just-W2]

This year is suppose to be the year of the D-Line. There are a few players in the same position that are projected to be drafted higher than him. Whoever don't draft him is going to regret it.

 

[305to954]

They got it right

 

[mdpcane]

second team ? SMH ... wait and see how fast the NFL is gonna grab this kid like a blind dog in a meat house.

 

[Home Slice]

Legit

 

[mackjones]

1st Round draft selection. No, ifs, but's or dUh.

 

[JHallCanes]

It’s no secret that all our great defenses started with dominant DTs

Unfortunately we probably won’t remember his utter dominance because it was such a **** season.

Too bad. He was a machine.

 

[orange&green84]

second team ? SMH ... wait and see how fast the NFL is gonna grab this kid like a blind dog in a meat house.

This one's different. It's not last week's travesty where he was 2nd team in the ACC conference. From SI's viewpoint, he's 2nd team across the nation (all P5 conferences). That's respectable.

 

[Kempo Cane]

Wish we could have had 3 years of his talent hope he keeps his head and tears it up in the NFL

 

[3GC]

Hope to see him in HoJo colors next year..

 

[canes23]

Would love to see him in a Dolphin uniform next year!

 

[Canes Stan]

I need him with my Falcons