Willis Returns Ready for Redemption
By David Villavicencio
HurricaneSports.com
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – It’s a new year and Gerald Willis is a new man.
The redshirt senior defensive lineman, who changed numbers this spring from 91 to 9, is preparing for his final season of college football and he is making the most of his opportunity.
“It’s great,” Willis said. “It’s great to be out here with my brothers. I’m just excited to play with these guys this year since I didn’t play last year.”
A year ago, Willis was noticeably absent from the Hurricanes’ two-deep, as the Louisiana native took a leave of absence from competition.
“I strive to be the best player and person I can be,” Willis said. “I needed to address some personal issues in order to meet my own high standards on and off the field. The leave of absence I took afforded me the time and space that I needed to regain my focus.
“I have never felt better, and am very excited to not only lead by example on the football field this season, but also to fulfill my goal of obtaining my degree from the University of Miami.”
While the Hurricanes were busy winning 10 games and earning appearances at the ACC Championship Game and Capitol One Orange Bowl, Willis was focused on getting things in order away from football.
“I had a lot of personal issues I had to handle off the field so that I could make a comeback,” Willis said. “I had a lot of family issues. I had to get my mind right, so that I could be able to focus this year. It worked a lot. I’m a changed person, I’m a changed man. I changed a lot of ways I used to have. I think I’m a better person and I’m starting to be a better player.”
Willis’ absence from games in 2017 did not completely prevent him from helping the Canes, as he was a dominant force on Miami’s scout team. At the conclusion of the season, Willis was named the Scout Team Player of the Year for defense.
“That’s just a testament to him as a person,” defensive lineman Pat Bethel said. “No matter the role you get, never giving up and working hard is every day even when it’s on scout team. Some dudes look at it like, ‘Why am I over here?’ But he looked at it as an opportunity to get better and make the offense better and that’s just what he did. He went out there and was a terror. He was making plays and making the offense better. That just speaks to him as a person.”
Willis officially rejoined the team prior to the start of spring practice and has been well received by his teammates.
“It was great,” Willis said. “Great support. When I first got back, they had a team meeting – I came in and everybody got on their feet and clapped. I just felt so welcome and felt so glad to be back.”
His fellow defensive linemen have welcomed Willis back into their room with open arms and they are all holding one another accountable on and off the field.
“We’re a brotherhood and if you’re at home and you notice one of your brothers is missing, you’re going to notice that and you’ve got to do something about it,” Bethel said. “Whatever we can do to help pushing each other and making each other better men, better players and better people all around.”
Willis’ play has earned him a spot with the first team defense this spring, catching the attention of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
“He’s our [number] one tackle,” Diaz said. “He has been our best guy all of camp, consistently. He is making the plays that we know he’s got that knack for making, but also being a consistent menace, down after down, to the offense.”
The playmaking ability was always there for Willis, as he had 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in nine games in 2016. But his most impressive accomplishment this spring cannot be found on practice film.
“It’s the way he attacks everything,” Diaz said. “It’s the way he is around the building. It’s the way he is in the weight room. It’s the way he is around the coaches and his teammates. He’s a program guy now, and does everything right and has bought into Coach Richt’s program. It’s really been fun to watch.”
Diaz has seen the transformation Willis has undergone and believes he is poised for a big senior season and on track to succeed in life after football, too.
“He’s a new guy. He really is,” Diaz said. “He has really changed. He’s an outstanding young man. He’s a great guy in our program. He has done everything we have asked. It would be unfair to hold something over somebody. That’s just not the way that life works, to me. All we ask is that he’s a great teammate and does everything the program asks, and he has been straight A’s across the board. We’re super excited about who he is as a person, because ultimately this game will end for him at some point anyway. He’s going to be a man forever and I think he has turned into an outstanding man. What he does on the football field as a player is really exciting. I can’t wait to watch him in the fall.”
Even with his strong start this spring, Willis knows his journey is far from over. He is committed to continuing his hard work on and off the field.
“I mean, I’m running with the ones,” Willis said. “They haven’t set up the starting lineup yet but, like I said, I’m just excited to be out here. It’s a blessing, all through Christ, and I’m just ready to play ball.”
