Ranking the Contenders: Aaron Willis
Aaron Willis was a well-known prospect coming out of youth football but the Baltimore (Md.) St. Frances standout didn’t waste any time with his recruitment. Virginia Tech reeled in an early commitment from him in September of 2018. Willis backed off that commitment the following April but additional offers were flowing in even before that.
Willis hasn’t been shy about visiting as many schools as he can and this spring was going to feature a very important series of visits. The coronavirus pandemic and recruiting dead period forced him to press pause on those trips but he is holding out hope he’ll be able to take more visits before committing. Willis would like to commit before the season but admits that it’ll probably take place early this coming season so he has time to take his official visits.
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CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2022: Top 100
1. ALABAMA
The Crimson Tide have to feel good here. Willis is the style of prospect that Alabama looks for in inside linebackers. He is very close with a number of current Alabama players because they are former teammates of his from St. Frances. His friendship with current Alabama linebacker Shane Lee carries a lot of weight and the two have talked a lot about what it is like to play at Alabama. Willis has visited Tuscaloosa multiple times and he will likely return for an official visit at some point in the future.
2. MARYLAND
Mike Locksley has the Terps picking up momentum with in-state prospects and Willis likes what he’s been hearing from the coaching staff. He has a few teammates the play for Maryland and a few more that are already committed to the program in this class. Willis has been on campus so many times so they probably won’t get him for an official visit but it’s almost a guarantee he’ll be back in College Park for a visit once players are allowed to take trips again.
3. MICHIGAN
The list of connections Michigan has to St. Frances is very long and that isn’t lost on Willis. He is very close with 2020 Michigan signees and former teammates Nakhai Hill-Green and Osman Savage. The three of them played linebacker for St. Frances last season and Willis would be very comfortable playing next to them in Ann Arbor. Willis has visited Michigan a number of times in the past so there is a possibility he decides to use his official visits elsewhere but that shouldn’t be taken as a lack of interest in the Wolverines.
4. LSU
Ed Orgeron and his staff left a lasting impression on Willis when he visited and he still talks about that trip a lot. LSU's track record of developing linebackers is something that caught his eye and he is trying to take another visit to Baton Rouge in the future. Willis wants to see some of the new coaches and get closer to them before taking the next step in his recruitment.
5. TEXAS
It’s not often the Longhorns are contenders for a Mid-Atlantic prospect but Willis has some strong connections to the state. His mother’s side of the family still has roots in Texas and Willis was born in San Antonio. He spends a lot of time in Texas and, even though Tom Herman and his staff just recently offered, look for Willis to make it on campus before announcing a commitment. Tennessee and Arizona State round out Willis’ top seven and could have easily been listed in this position. They are also potential official visit destinations for Willis.