Another Poly DB on the map
The good news you have by playing for Southern California powerhouse Long Beach (Calif.) Poly is you can enter the season as a sleeper and by the end of the season you can emerge as a prospect. Many times players don't get a chance to play much until their senior seasons.
Safety Ryan Willis (6-0, 185, 4.5) is one such prospect and because of his solid senior season is beginning to appear on the recruiting radar.
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For the season, the hard hitting Willis k accounted for 39 tackles, three pass breakups and one interception.
College such as Hawai'i, Arizona State, Oregon and UCLA are showing interest in Willis. The emerging safety was invited to and even invited to a recent UCLA game.
One of the reasons why, Willis is a sleeper was he played behind two players who signed D-I scholarships last February in Herman Davidson who inked with North Carolina and Vaughn Telemaque who signed with Miami.
"Stan (Stanjarivus McKay) and I have big shoes to fill," Willis said. "I think we are filling those shoes and I think they would be very pleased."
Willis is beginning to garner the reputation as a playmaker, who comes up big when his team needs a play most.
In an earlier game against another Southern California powerhouse, Venture (Calif.) St. Bonaventure, Willis blocked a Patrick Hall punt that resulted in a safety. That play changed the momentum of the game strongly in Poly's favor. It is plays like these in big games that help a team be 10-0 where Poly stands.
"I do whatever it takes and whatever needs to be done for my team," Willis said. "I work hard, day in and day out."
"My teammates know that I am for them and I tell them what we need to do then we set out to get it done.