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SAN FRANCISCO (January 4) Former Hollow
Rock-Bruceton Central Tiger and Ole Miss
All-American football player Patrick Willis
capped off his first season in the National
Football League by being named the
Associated Press 2007 Defensive Rookie of
the Year.
Willis received 48 of 50 votes from a
nationwide panel of media members who
regularly cover NFL games.
Despite the 49ers mediocre 5-11 season,
Willis led the NFL with 174 solo tackles and
shattered the NFL’s all-time single season
total tackle record of 213 total tackles by
former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Hardy Nickerson
in 1993 by amassing an astounding 222 total
tackles, including two 20-plus tackle
performances.
Described by one NFL scout as a “beast”,
Willis wreaked havoc on opposing offenses
throughout the season and helped fellow
49ers hold highly-touted NFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson of the
Minnesota Vikings to a mere four yards
rushing against San Francisco.
Jon Scott, Scout.com sports writer, stated
in an article posted on the New England
Patriots Website PatriotsInsider.com,
regarding Willis’ selection as Defensive
Rookie of the Year, “There is no doubt San
Francisco got the steal of the 2007 NFL
Draft. There’s also no doubt why so many
other teams wanted him so badly.”
He added, “Without Willis, San Francisco
might have been in Miami’s position.”
He concluded, “Willis deserves to be NFL
Defensive Player of the Year and NFL Rookie
of the Year.”
Former Central Tiger Head Football Coach and
current Central Superintendent of Schools
Rod Sturdivant said, “Winning this award is
the starting point of a great NFL career for
Patrick. It is a stepping stone to bigger
things in the future, providing he does not
become injured.”
Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central High School
educator Buddy Smothers said, “It is unheard
of what Patrick has been able to do this
year. My wife and I got to see him play
against the Atlanta Falcons and he was all
over the field.”
He concluded, “Patrick is highly respected
by his teammates and opponents alike.”
Regarding winning the prestigious award,
Willis said, “Winning this is a confirmation
of what you have done as an individual. From
that perspective, it would be good for
people that doubted, or didn’t know if you
could be a number one draft pick or could
come to the league and do well because of
your size or where you might have played
football at…and show them that if you put
your mind to it-you are capable of
anything.”
He added, “The good Lord has blessed me with
skills that are uncommon, but are just
something that I do naturally. I also know
that I couldn’t do this by myself without
help from my fellow linebackers or defensive
line. Knowing that, I just stay humble.”
Willis concluded, “Whether it’s in the
movies or in real life, you see guys that
get bigheaded, and they are in for a rude
awakening.”
There is a lesson to be learned from Patrick
Willis’s success.
Overlooked by numerous Division I major
college football programs including the
University of Tennessee Volunteers, Willis’
unprecedented collegiate career at Ole Miss
and NFL success serves to permanently
shatter the popular misconception that
athletes from division I single A high
school sports programs like Central, West
Carroll or McKenzie cannot compete nor excel
against players or teams representing larger
classifications.
Good to know. |
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