Rebel Roundabout: P-Willy’s induction weekend; Ole Miss’ Davis on Groza preseason watchlist
Patrick Willis was at his sister’s house in Jackson, Tennessee, when the knock came.
Representatives for the Pro Football Hall of Fame had arrived to officially welcome Willis, the all-time Ole Miss football great, in as a member of their class of 2024.
“That was a full-circle moment — from when I was a kid to just speaking these things,” Willis said during a recent appearance on the ‘Rich Eisen Show.’ “‘Boy, that boy has an imagination. How you think you’re going to do that? So many have tried.’
“Where I come from, not many have explored or reached those heights. Getting that knock that day, it meant a lot. It was truly special.”
Willis received his gold jacket and will be inducted during a ceremony on Saturday (August 3) from 11-2 p.m. CT in Canton, Ohio.
The other honorees are Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Julius Peppers, Randy Gradishar (senior) and Seven McMichael (senior).
“It was also the (anniversary of) the day my uncle had passed,” Willis continued. “He was one of those ones that really pushed me and said, ‘It’s possible, boss, you’ve just got to put in the work every day.’
“I saw him working as well; he was a professional boxer. I got a lot of my work ethic from him. Everything that day was a full-circle moment.”
Rebel Roundabout: Hall of Fame calling P-Willy; Treadwell extends NFL career with Colts
💻 @PatrickWillis52
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) July 25, 2024
The @49ers great and @ProFootballHOF inductee talked with us about is upcoming Canton moment and what it was like to get that knock on the door earlier this year:#NFL #NFLTrainingCamp #FTTB pic.twitter.com/pH82Jw6fGm
Willis will become one of three Rebels in the Hall of Fame.
The others are Bruiser Kinard (1970) and Gene Hickerson (2007).
Willis starred for Ole Miss from 2003 to 2006. No Rebel made more All-American teams (13) in a single season. He twice led the SEC in tackles.
Willis was a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year. In Ole Miss history he’s sixth in career tackles (355) and tied for sixth in TFLs (33).
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The 49ers drafted Willis with the No. 11 overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. He won Defensive Rookie of the Year and was a seven-time All-Pro in eight seasons. On five different occasions Willis was first-team All-Pro.
Willis finished his NFL career with 950 combined tackles (732 solo, 218 assists). He had 20.5 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, five fumbles recovered, eight interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
Your newest member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Former Ole Miss and San Fransisco 49ers standout Patrick Willis pic.twitter.com/gaRGZPfFtY
— Caleb Salers (@CalebSalersST) August 2, 2024
OLE MISS’ DAVIS NAMED TO LOU GROZA WATCHLIST
Ole Miss senior Caden Davis was one of 30 college kickers named Friday to the preseason watchlist for the Lou Groza Award.
He’s one of eight from the SEC.
The Groza is handed out each year to the nation’s top placekicker. Davis debuted and scored 99 total points for Ole Miss last season. The Rebels won a program-record 11 games.
Davis, a former transfer from Texas A&M, made 18 of his 23 field goals, including 7-11 from 40-plus. He posted Ole Miss’ first perfect point-after season (45-45) since 2015.
Davis is one of just five Rebel kickers in history with multiple 50-yard field goals in a single season. Perhaps most memorable was his crucial, 56-yard boot at No. 22 Tulane — the longest by a Rebel since 1988 and the fourth-longest ever.
ESPN will announce the winner at the College Football Awards in December.
