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Copyright 2007. Use by permission only.
Central High School Retires Patrick Willis’
Football Jersey
By Ernie Smothers
smothers@mckenziebanner.com
Central Principal Jack
McGee presents Patrick Willis with a
commemorative plaque during jersey
retirement ceremonies at Central High
School.- photo by Joel Washburn
BRUCETON (January 22) — Before a packed
gymnasium filled with family, friends and
fellow Carroll Countians, former Hollow
Rock-Bruceton Central High School football
standout and San Francisco 49ers NFL All-Pro
Defensive Rookie of the Year Patrick Willis
witnessed the retirement of his number 42
Tiger football jersey in a ceremony held
prior to the West Carroll-Central boy’s
basketball game.
Former Central Tiger Head Football Coach and
Central Superintendent of Schools Rod
Sturdivant stated, “Ladies and gentleman,
you are truly witnessing a historic moment.
This is the first time in Central history
that a former player’s jersey has been
retired.”
Dylan Kelly, a resident of Eva
but formerly of McKenzie, has
attended two 49’ers games and got
field passes to share the experience
with Willis. He is the son of Patty
Taylor-Kelley, who is a good friend
of Willis.
-
photo by Joel Washburn
He continued, “I always said that a number
would be retired only if one of our players
reached the NFL. I didn’t think that it
would ever happen. Patrick Willis proved me
wrong. He has reached and excelled at the
highest level of football, and it all
started here at Central High School in
Carroll County.”
Introducing Willis, former Tiger Defensive
Coordinator and CHS Principal Jack E. McGee
said, “Patrick, words can’t express the
pride and joy your success has brought to
all of us .On behalf of Central High School
and all of Carroll County, thank you for
representing all of us so well. It is our
honor to retire your number 42 jersey
tonight-you have worked hard for your
success and we are all so very proud of
you.”
He concluded, “In addition to your framed
jersey, I would like you to present you with
a plaque bearing a photograph of you wearing
number 42 during your senior year. A second
identical plaque will remain on display here
at Central in honor of what you have done
and will do in years to come.”
Following hugs from Sturdivant and McGee,
Willis began, “First and foremost, I want to
thank the Lord for all the blessings He has
provided me. I live by the biblical
scripture found in Luke 1:37- I can do all
things through Christ that strengthens me. I
thank God for providing me with the gift and
the opportunity to do what I do.”
Gathering himself, he continued, “Most of
the time, I play before huge crowds in
stadiums filled completely with strangers,
and the only people that I know are the ones
I am competing against. But tonight…standing
here before my family, fellow classmates
from Central, and friends from my hometown
and Carroll County who have loved me and
supported me-I am truly thankful and
humbled.”
Former Central High
School coaches Rod Sturdivant and Jack McGee
present the retired jersey number Patrick
Willis as Willis looks on. Sturdivant is now
superintendent of schools and McGee is
Central High School principal.- photo by Joel Washburn
Smiling, he concluded, “Thank you all. I
will never forget this night and this honor.
God bless you.”
Moments after the ceremonies conclusion,
Central educator and WFWL-WRJB “Voice of the
Tigers” commentator Buddy Smothers asked
during his live radio interview, “Patrick,
how does it feel to play in the NFL”?
Smiling, Willis responded, “It feels like a
dream…until you get hit. That’s when reality
sets in and you know where you are and what
you have to do.”
Asked how it felt to put his 49ers jersey on
for the first time, Willis said, “That was
special. When I first put on my number 52
jersey, it dawned on me that I had made it
to the NFL. It also made me determined to
work hard to represent myself and earn my
place on the San Francisco 49ers. “
Former Central teacher Mrs. Sandra
(Hartsfield) Alexander praises Patrick for
his accomplishments. She taught Patrick in
elementary school. - photo by Joel
Washburn
Willis stated that he was excited about
being chosen as All-Pro first Team and is
looking forward to playing in the Pro Bowl.
He said, “I am working out and preparing for
the game now. I am a bit nervous about
playing, but looking forward to it. My head
Coach Mike Nolan has already told
me-“Rook…they are going to have fun and mess
with you out there.” I’ve never been to
Hawaii, and being able to go there and play
in the Pro Bowl is a true blessing.”
He concluded, “I just want to say that I am
a Christian and that I take my faith
seriously. I am grateful to God always for
all He had done in my life.”
West Carroll cheerleaders pose for a photo
with Patrick Willis. - photo by Joel
Washburn
Patrick Willis Biography
PERSONAL: Patrick L. Willis, born
January 25, 1985. Son of Ernest Willis.
Legal Guardians are Chris and Julie Finley.
Siblings: Orey, Detris (deceased) and
Ernicka.
Hometown: Smyrna, Tennessee, located between
Buena Vista and Huntingdon in Carroll
County.
High School: 2003 Graduate of Hollow
Rock-Bruceton Central High School. Attended
Central school system from kindergarten
through 12th grade.
2002 Mr. Bruceton.
Prep Awards and accomplishments (1999-2002)
Freshman: All-Region.
Sophomore: All-Region and honorable mention
All-State.
Junior: All-State, All West Tennessee and
Regional Defensive Player of the Year.
Senior: All-State, All-West Tennessee,
Regional Most Valuable Player and West
Tennessee Player of the Year. Class "A" Mr.
Football in Tennessee. Holds the distinction
for being the first person in Tennessee
state history to be selected for Offensive
and Defensive Mr. Football Awards in the
same year.
Two-time All-State selection; Regional Most
Valuable Player; West Tennessee Player of
the Year.
During Willis’ senior season, he carried the
football 194 times for 2,167 yards and 30
TDs on offense. Defensively, he was
credited with 163 tackles, including 36 for
losses, while racking up 12 QB sacks and
four pass interceptions, returning one for a
TD.
Central career statistics (football,
basketball, baseball)
Football
Four-year letterman and starter.
Offense: 276 carries for 2,486 yards and 39 TDs with average of 9 yards per carry. 51
pass receptions for 946 yards and 17 TDs
with average of 18.5 yards per catch. Scored
392 career points (62 TDs, 1 PAT, 3
two-point conversion, 1 field goal, 2
safeties). Compiled 3,944 all-purpose
yards.
Defense: 494 career tackles including 275
solo hits, 23 QB sacks, 46 tackles for loss,
13 pass interceptions with six picks
returned for TDs.
Willis helped lead Central High to 2001 and
2002 Regional Championship and State
Quarter-finalist. Central was a 1999 state
semifinalist.
Basketball
Four-year letterman who averaged 18 points
and 11 rebounds (sophomore), 24 points and
11 rebounds (junior) and 18 points and eight
rebounds (senior).
All-District, All-Region, District Most
Valuable Player, All-West Tennessee, and
honorable mention All-State honors in
basketball.
Baseball
Three-year letterman, earning All District
honors his senior year.
OLE MISS (2003-2006)
A leader both on and off the field, Willis
was heavily involved in community service
while attending Ole Miss.
2003
Played in all 13 games
Earned his
first letter
Made 20 stops (16 solo),
including one TFL (-6 yards) and had one QB
pressure
At Vanderbilt (8/30): Made his
collegiate debut and recorded one solo
tackle
vs. Louisiana-Monroe (9/13):
Credited with three stops (two solo),
including one TFL (-6 yards) and one QB
pressure
vs. Arkansas State (10/11):
Made a season-high five solo tackles
vs.
Alabama (10/18): Credited with three stops
(two solo) and was named the Special Teams
Player of the Week by the Quarterback Club.
Received Scholar-Athlete Award from the Ole
Miss Chapter of the National Football
Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Made the Chancellor's Honor Roll in fall of
2003.
2004
Earned honorable mention All-SEC
honors from The Associated Press
Appeared in 10-of-11 games.
Recorded 70
tackles (54 solo) and led team with 11.0 TFLs (-62 yards) and five QB sacks (-39
yards).
Tied for the team lead with four QB
pressures and recorded one pass deflection,
one forced fumble and one fumble recovery
vs. Memphis (9/4).
Recorded eight hits (five
solo), including one TFL (-3 yards) against
Vanderbilt (9/18).
Credited with a team-high
seven tackles (four solo) and recorded his
first career QB sack (-9 yards) against
Arkansas State (10/2).
Credited with two
stops (one solo), one pass deflection and
recovered his first career fumble in the
third quarter to aid the Reb’s upset 28-21
win at South Carolina (10/9).
Made eight
tackles, including a career-high three TFLs
(-13 yards) and recorded one QB sack (-5
yards) and was named the Quarterback Club
Defensive Player of the Week against
Arkansas (11/13).
Tallied a career-high 13
stops (eight solo), including two TFLs (-5
yards) to earn Quarterback Club Defensive
Player of the Week honors against LSU
(11/20).
Recorded 12 stops (nine solo),
including tying a career high with three TFLs (-20 yards) and set a career high with
two QB sacks (-13 yards) and one QB pressure
against Mississippi State (11/27).
2005
Named First Team All-America by CollegeFootballNews.com and the All-American
Football Foundation.
Earned First Team
All-SEC honors from Associated Press, SEC
Coaches, CollegeFootballNews.com and
Rivals.com.
2005 NCAA Division I-A
statistical champion for solo tackles (9.0).
Garnered Second Team All-America distinction
from Walter Camp Football Foundation, The
Associated Press, SI.com and Rivals.com.
Named SEC Defensive Player of the Year by CollegeFootballNews.com and Scout.com.
Semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award.
Finalist for the Conerly Trophy as
Mississippi's top player.
CollegeFootballNews.com distinguished him as
the SEC Top Linebacker and SEC No. 2 Rated
Player Regardless of Position.
Member of the
All-Mayday Team.
Led the SEC in total tackles at
12.80 per game, which placed him sixth
nationally.
His 90 solo stops are the second-most by a
Rebel since 1968, two shy of Kem Coleman's
1976 mark.
Finished season with 128 total
tackles, 9.5 TFLs, three sacks, three
pass-break-ups, two QB hurries, two forced
fumbles, a fumble recovery and an
interception.
Started 10 games, missing the Wyoming game
(9/24) with injury
In nine complete
games of play, Willis averaged 13.7 tackles
and totaled 9.5 TFLs
Played with a
broken middle finger on his right hand, a
sprained left knee, a right mid-foot sprain
and a partial AC joint separation of his
right and spent much of the year with a club
covering his right hand.
Led a Rebel defense
that finished 14th in the nation in pass
defense, 27th in total defense and 31st in
scoring defense.
Earned his third letter at
Memphis (9/5) while making his first career
start and recorded 15 tackles with a forced
fumble and two tackles for loss.
Directed a
Rebel defense that contained Tiger
All-American RB DeAngelo Williams under 100
yards rushing for only the third time in his
last 23 games.
Named SEC Defensive Player of
the Week and Rebel Quarterback Club
Defensive Player of the Week.
Vanderbilt
(9/17): totaled five solo tackles before
leaving in the second quarter with injury.
Tennessee (10/1): returned to the starting
lineup after missing two weeks of practice
and the Wyoming game with injury.
Led the
Rebels against the ninth-ranked Volunteers
with 14 tackles (10 solo) with two TFLs and
earned Rebel Quarterback Club Defensive
Player of the Week honors.
Alabama (10/15):
Posted 15 tackles with 2.5 TFLs and 1.5
sacks and led the Ole Miss defense in
holding the Crimson Tide to a season-low 13
points and 121 rushing yards.
Kentucky
(10/22): registered 14 tackles with two QB
hurries, a pass break-up and a half sack and
directed a Rebel defense that limited the
Wildcats to one score and 256 yards of
offense while forcing three turnovers.
Auburn (10/29): recorded 13 stops and made
his third QB sack of the year.
Arkansas
(11/12): posted a game-high nine stops with
a fumble recovery and helped shut down the SEC's top rushing attack, holding the
Razorbacks to 89 yards, 163 yards below
their season average.
Named Rebel
Quarterback Club Defensive Player of the
Week.
LSU (11/18): Tied his career high for
total tackles with 15, including 11 solos. Also forced a fumble and had a pass
break-up.
Mississippi State (11/26): Tallied
11 solo stops and hauled in his first career
interception.
Spring 2005: Earned the Jeff
Hamm Memorial Award as the Most Improved
Defensive Player of spring drills
Nailed
down starting spot at middle linebacker
Named first team preseason All-SEC West by
Phipps Football Magazine.
2006
Consensus All-American selection
Distinguished as a First Team All-America By
All-American Football Foundation, Associated
Press, CBSSportsline.com,
CollegeFootballNews.com, ESPN.com, Football
Writers' Association of America, The
Gridiron Gazette, Pro Football Weekly,
Rivals.com, Scout.com, SI.com, The Sporting
News and the Walter Camp Football
Foundation
Received the Conerly Trophy
as Mississippi's best college football
player
Named Midseason First Team
All-America by CBS Sportsline.com and
CollegeFootballNews.com
Named Tennessee
Amateur Male Athlete of the Year by the
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
2006 Butkus
Award and Lambert Trophy winner as the
nation’s top linebacker
Named first-team
All-SEC and SEC Defensive Player of the Year
by the Associated Press and the league's
coaches
Finalist for the Bronko Nagurski
Award
Semifinalist for the Rotary
Lombardi Award and Lott Trophy
Named to
the SEC’s Academic Honor Roll
Earned
South Team Defensive MVP honors at the 2007
Senior Bowl, when he led all players with 11
tackles (seven solo) and one force fumble
Led the SEC in tackles with 11.4 per
game, which also ranked sixth in the NCAA
Ranked third in the NCAA in solo tackles
with 7.25 per outing
Started all 12
games at middle linebacker, collecting 137
tackles (87 solo), 11.5 TFLs, seven passes
defended, three sacks, two forced fumbles
and one fumble recovery
Earned his
fourth letter
vs. Memphis (9/3): Posted
12 tackles (eight solo) and 1.5 TFLs and a
forced fumble
Earned Rebel Quarterback
Club Defensive Player of the Week honors
at Missouri (9/9): Turned in 10 tackles (six
solo) and picked up a career-best two passes
defended
at Kentucky (9/16): Recorded a
season-high 13 tackles (12 solo), also
turned in 1.5 TFLs and a pass defended
Combined with fellow LB Garry Pack for an
Ole Miss record 26 solo tackles with Pack
picking up 14 to go along with his
career-best mark of 12
vs. Wake Forest
(9/23): Notched his fourth double-digit
tackling performance of the season with 11
tackles (seven solo) to go along with 1.0 TFL
Named Rebel Quarterback Club
Defensive Player of the Week
vs. #9/10
Georgia (9/30): Held to a season-low four
tackles (three solo)
posted 1.0 TFL and
one pass defended versus the Bulldogs
vs. Vanderbilt (10/7): Tallied 12 tackles
(eight solo), 0.5 TFLs, one forced fumble
and one pass defended in holding the
Commodores to a season-low 10 points
at
Alabama (10/14): Posted 11 tackles (four
solo), including a crucial fourth-down stop
which forced the game into overtime
Also
picked up one pass defended versus the
Crimson Tide
vs. #15/18 Arkansas
(10/21): Turned in a game-high 13 tackles
(10 solo), including 10 in the first half
versus the Razorbacks
vs. #7/7 Auburn
(10/28): Tied career high with 15 total
tackles (nine solo)
vs. Northwestern
State (11/4): Tallied a game-high 11 tackles
(seven solo) versus the Demons
at #9/9 LSU (11/18): Collected a game-high 12
tackles (six solo), including 3.0 TFLs, 1.0
sack and one forced fumble
vs.
Mississippi State (11/25): Recorded a
game-high 13 tackles (seven solo)
Also
picked up 1.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack and one
quarterback hurry in leading Ole Miss to a
20-17 Egg Bowl win
Spring 2006: Did not
participate in spring drills due to having
foot surgery
Received the 2006 Chucky
Mullins Courage Award
Preseason 2006:
Named preseason First Team All-American and
No. 1 inside linebacker in the nation by The
Sporting News, Lindy's and CollegeFootballNews.com
Selected as a
preseason All-America by Playboy and a First
Team honoree by NationalChamps.net
Named
to Watch Lists for the Bednarik Award,
Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lott Trophy
Also picked by Lindy's as the preseason
SEC Defensive Player of the Year and was
ranked No. 4 of 10 on its Bronko Nagurski
Watch list
Named Most Valuable Ole Miss
Player by Lindy's, which also ranked him No.
5 on its SEC Top 10 NFL Talent list
Rated No. 10 on SI.com's "Best College
Football Players of 2006," the highest among
six players from the SEC
Chosen
preseason First Team All-SEC by The Sporting
News, Lindy's and Phipps Football Magazines
Named to 2006 SEC "Good Works" team.
Willis' Ole Miss Defensive Career Highs
TACKLES: 15, five times, most recent vs.
Auburn (10/28/06)
SOLO TACKLES: 12, at Kentucky (9/16/06)
TFLs: 3.0, three times, most recent vs. LSU
(11/18/2006)
QB SACKS: 2.0, at LSU (11/20/2004)
PASS DEFLECTIONS: 2, vs. Missouri (9/9/06)
QB PRESSURES: 3, vs. Mississippi State
(11/27/2004)
National Football League
Drafted 11th overall in the first round of
the 2007 NFL draft by the San Francisco
49ers.
Contract: five years for 14.6 million
dollars.
Willis’ first purchase with NFL money was a
double-wide mobile home for his beloved
grandmother.
2007 49ers stats.
Secured starting job as 49ers middle
linebacker position during fall practices.
Earned NFC and NFL Defensive Rookie of the
Year honors.
Chosen Diet Pepsi Rookie of the Week for
week’s two, 14 and 16. Finalist for Diet
Pepsi Rookie of the Year to be announced
January 31.
GMC NFL Defensive player of the Months of
October and December.
Shattered Tampa Bay Buccaneer Hardy
Nickerson’s unofficial season tackle record
of 213 with 222 tackles.
Garnered league leading 174 total tackles,
four sacks, two forced fumbles, five pass
deflections and one fumble recovery.
Only rookie selected to 2007 NFL First Team
All-Pro. In doing so, Willis became the
first 49er rookie to earn the honor since
Ronnie Lott in 1981.
Selected to Pro Bowl by NFL fans, Willis
received most votes of all players competing
for middle linebacker position.
In light of his prolific rookie NFL season,
ESPN The Magazine named Willis one of the
“NEXT” athletes of 2008.
Recipient of first-ever Bill Walsh Award,
presented to 49ers player who best embodies
Walsh’s dedication and love for the game of
football.
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