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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Patrick Willis Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week
9/6/2005 | Football
Sept. 6, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - After helping lead Ole Miss to a season-opening win at Memphis, linebacker Patrick Willis was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday, as announced by the league office.
Making his first career start, Willis posted a career-high 15 total tackles, including 10 solos, and two tackles for a loss in the Rebels' 10-6 victory over the Tigers. The junior from Bruceton, Tenn., also forced a fumble inside the game's final three minutes to help preserve the win.
Willis directed an Ole Miss defense that held All-America running back DeAngelo Williams under 100 yards rushing for only the third time in his last 23 games (85 yards on 24 carries). The Rebel defense also forced Memphis into three-downs-and-out on six of 12 possessions and surrendered just 268 total offensive yards on 67 attempts.
As a sophomore in 2004, Willis topped the team in quarterback sacks with five and TFLs with 11, while ranking third in total tackles with 70.
Ole Miss has this weekend off before returning to action Sept. 17 at Vanderbilt. The Rebels' Southeastern Conference opener is set for 11:30 a.m. CT at Vanderbilt Stadium and will be televised by Jefferson-Pilot Sports.
