Former Ole Miss Rebels linebacker Patrick Willis was named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame this week, marking the fifth-straight year that he has made the cut.
Willis, a native of Bruceton, Tenn., played for the Rebels from 2003-06 before being selected by the San Francisco 49ers No. 11 overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, after which he spent his entire pro career in San Fran.
While in the NFL, Willis registered 732 solo tackles, forced 16 fumbles and intercepted eight passes over the course of eight seasons. He is already a member of the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame, and he was named to seven Pro Bowls and was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007.
For his time at Ole Miss, Willis was also named to the College Football Hall of Fame and the SEC Legends Class of 2023. He was a consensus All-American as a senior in 2006, and he also won the Butkus Award and Lambert Trophy, awards given annually to the nation's top linebacker.
He led the SEC twice in tackles and was selected to the most First Team All-America teams (13) by a Rebel in a single season. He ranks sixth all-time at Ole Miss in career tackles with 355, and he is tied for sixth in tackles for loss with 33.
Along with winning the 2006 Conerly Trophy as the top college football player in the state of Mississippi, Willis also was the recipient of the 2006 Chucky Mullis Courage Award at Ole Miss and was the Defensive MVP for the South Team in the 2007 Senior Bowl.
Willis has been known to make appearances in Oxford and at Ole Miss games since his retirement from the NFL, but his Rebels are still awaiting their bowl game destination after finishing this regular season with 10 wins, just the second time that feat has been reached in school history.
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