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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Patrick Willis Named First Team All-America By All-American Football Foundation
2/27/2006 | Football
Feb. 27, 2006
JACKSON, Miss. - Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis has been selected to the 2005 All-American Football Foundation All-America first team, it was announced by Foundation President Jimmie McDowell.
"The All-American Football Foundation teams, which are selected after all of the bowl games have been played, are chosen by the Foundation's Collegiate, Bowl Association, Conference and Pro Football members," McDowell said.
The selection of Willis marked his second first-team All-America recognition following his junior season in 2005, having earlier been named first team All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com. Willis was also named second team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, The Associated Press, SI.com, and Rivals.com.
"Patrick had an outstanding season and is most worthy of this additional first team All-America recognition," said Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron. "He plays with great passion and has worked hard to become one of the finest linebackers in the country."
Willis, a 6-2, 230-pound junior from Bruceton, Tenn., is the 42nd Ole Miss player to earn first team All-America recognition since the school first fielded a football team in 1893.
Of the 42 Ole Miss players to earn first team All-America honors, seven were named on two occasions - tackle Frank (Bruiser) Kinard, 1936-37; end Barney Poole, 1947-48; tackle Jim Dunaway, 1961-62; tackle Jim Urbanek, 1966-67; quarterback Archie Manning, 1969-70; punter Bill Smith, 1985-86; and offensive lineman Everett Lindsay, 1991-92.
Prior to the selection of Willis, the last Ole Miss players to make first team All-America were quarterback Eli Manning and kicker Jonathan Nichols, both in 2003.
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 in December and is not expected to participate in 2006 spring drills when they begin March 4.
Willis finished the 2005 season as the nation's leader in solo tackles (9.00) and ranked No. 6 in the nation in total tackles (12.80). He also led the Southeastern Conference in tackles (12.8). His defensive statistics for the 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.
On offense, the All-American Football Foundation's 2005 first team All-America squad included wide receivers Dwayne Jarrett of Southern California and Jeff Samardzia of Notre Dame; tight end T. J. Williams of North Carolina State; offensive linemen Greg Eslinger of Minnesota, Eric Winston of Miami, Jonathan Scott of Texas and Taitusi Lutui of Southern California; quarterback Vince Young of Texas; running backs Reggie Bush of Southern California and DeAngelo Williams of Memphis; punter Sam Paulesin of Oregon State, and place kicker Steve Gostkowski of Memphis.
Defensively, first team selections included defensive linemen Darryl Tapp of Virginia Tech, Elvis Dumervil of Louisville, Mathias Kiwanuka of Boston College and Tamba Hali of Penn State; linebackers A. J. Hawk of Ohio State, Patrick Willis of Ole Miss, and Chad Greenway of Iowa; and defensive backs Darnell Bing of Southern California, Michael Huff of Texas, Greg Blue of Georgia, and Cedric Griffin of Texas.
2005 Patrick Willis Honors:
First Team All-America - All-American Football Foundation, CollegeFootballNews.com
Second Team All-America - Walter Camp Football Foundation, The Associated Press, SI.com, Rivals.com
First Team All-SEC - Associated Press, SEC Coaches, CollegeFootballNews.com, Rivals.com
2005 NCAA Division I-A statistical champion for solo tackles (9.0)
SEC Defensive Player of the Year - CollegeFootballNews.com
SEC Defensive Player of the Year - Scout.com
Semifinalist - Bednarik Award
Finalist - Conerly Trophy
SEC Top Linebacker - CollegeFootballNews.com
SEC No. 2 Rated Player Regardless of Position - CollegeFootballNews.com All-Mayday Team
