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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Willis Named Second Team All-America By Rivals.com
12/12/2005 | Football
Dec. 12, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis has been selected second team All-America by Rivals.com, it was announced Monday.
The latest honor from Rivals.com marks the third time within the last week for the 6-2, 230-pound junior from Bruceton, Tenn., to receive second team All-America recognition. He had earlier earned second team All-America accolades from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and SI.com.
Last week, Willis was selected SEC Defensive Player of the Year by Collegefootballnews.com and Scout.com. Collegefootballnews.com also selected Willis to its All-SEC team, while naming him as the 2005 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, the top linebacker in the conference, and the league's No. 2 player (behind Auburn's Kenny Irons) regardless of position.
He also has been named first team All-SEC by The Associated Press, the SEC Coaches and Scout.com.
Willis, finished the regular season as the nation's leader in solo tackles (9.00) and ranked No. 5 in the nation in total tackles (12.80). He also led the Southeastern Conference in tackles (12.8).
A finalist for the Cellular South Conerly Trophy (awarded to Mississippi's top football player), Willis was a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation's Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year.
As for the 2005 season, Willis' defensive statistics for Coach Ed Orgeron's Rebels included 128 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (-42), three QB sacks (-28), two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, three passes defensed, two QB pressures and one pass interception.
Willis battled through his junior season with a broken middle finger on his right hand, a sprained left knee, a right mid-foot injury and a partial AC joint separation of his right shoulder. He underwent successful surgery to his right foot last Friday.
