Derrick Willies

Last updated

Derrick Willies
Derrick Willies (43568038384) (cropped).jpg
Willies with the Cleveland Browns in 2018
Personal information
Born: (1994-10-17) October 17, 1994 (age 29)
Banning, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: Rock Island
(Rock Island, Illinois)
College: Texas Tech
Position: Wide receiver
Undrafted: 2018
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:3
Receiving yards:61

Derrick Willies (born October 17, 1994) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas Tech and played professionally for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL).

Contents

Early years

Willies attended and played high school football and ran track at Burlington High School in Iowa before transferring Rock Island High School during his junior year and was named all-state at both schools. In track, Willies won the Illinois Class 3A state championship in the 110-meter hurdles. [1]

College career

Willies began his college career at the University of Iowa. After sitting out his first year, Willies had 4 catches for 71 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman before leaving the team in late October. [2] Willies transferred to Trinity Valley Community College where he was a first-team Junior College Athletic Association All-American and subsequently transferred to Texas Tech. [3] Willies caught 36 passes for 592 yards and five touchdowns over two seasons with the Red Raiders. [4]

Professional career

Cleveland Browns

Willies was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2018. [5] Willies made the Browns 53-man roster and made his NFL debut on September 9, 2018, during the team's season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. [6] On October 7 against the Baltimore Ravens, Willies caught his first career NFL pass, a 13-yard reception, and had a pivotal 39-yard reception in overtime to set up the Browns' game-winning field goal. [7] [8] After fracturing his collarbone during practice on October 12, Willies was placed on injured reserve on October 13, 2018. [9]

On August 31, 2019, Willies was waived by the Browns and was signed to the practice squad the next day. [10] [11] His practice squad contract with the team expired on January 6, 2020, [12] and he was not invited to training camp by any team.

Willies was re-signed to the Browns' practice squad on November 17, 2020. [13] He was elevated to the active roster on December 26 for the team's week 16 game against the New York Jets, and reverted to the practice squad after the game. [14]

Willies was signed to a reserve/futures contract by the Browns on January 18, 2021. [15] The Browns placed Willies on the reserve/retired list on July 30, 2021. [16] He was waived from the reserve/retired list on February 17, 2022. [17]

Tampa Bay Bandits

Willies was selected in the 14th round of the 2022 USFL draft by the Tampa Bay Bandits. [18] He was transferred to the team's inactive roster on April 22, 2022. [19] He was moved to the inactive roster again on May 11. [20] He was moved back to the active roster on May 20. [21]

NFL statistics

Regular season statistics
YearTeamGamesReceivingFumbles
GPGSTgtRecPctYdsTD1DFumLost
2018 CLE 505360%610210
2020 CLE 1000000000
Career605360%610210

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scooby Wright</span> American football player (born 1994)

Philip Anthony "Scooby" Wright III is an American football linebacker for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rannell Hall</span> American football player (born 1993)

Rannell Hall is an American football wide receiver and cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at UCF.

Trae Elston is an American football safety who is a free agent. The All-American played college football at Mississippi. Elston was a member of the 2017 Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles.

John Franklin III is an American football wide receiver for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Florida State, Auburn and Florida Atlantic. He also played junior college football for East Mississippi, where he was featured prominently in the first season of Last Chance U. He was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Obi Melifonwu</span> American football player (born 1994)

Henry-William Obiajulu Melifonwu is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at UConn. He was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deon Cain</span> American football player (born 1996)

Deon Cain is an American football wide receiver for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Clemson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Xavier Woodson-Luster</span> American football player (born 1995)

Xavier Woodson-Luster is an American football linebacker who plays for the Fundidores de Monterrey of the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional (LFA). He played college football at Arkansas State. Woodson-Luster has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans.

Johnathan "Bug" Howard is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at North Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Lauletta</span> American football player (born 1995)

Kyle James Lauletta is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Richmond Spiders and was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He was also a member of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars. He also played in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Pittsburgh Maulers and New Jersey Generals.

J'Mon Moore is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Missouri, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the NFL's Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Atlanta Falcons, and the New Jersey Generals and Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Davion Davis</span> American football player (born 1996)

Davion Davis is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Sam Houston State and has also been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Houston Roughnecks, and Birmingham Stallions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ishmael Hyman</span> American football player (born 1995)

Ishmael Hyman is an American professional football wide receiver for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at James Madison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrick Dillon</span> American football player (born 1995)

Derrick Dillon is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at LSU.

Isaiah Zuber is an American football wide receiver and punt returner for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Kansas State and Mississippi State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Brown (wide receiver)</span> American football player (born 1997)

Tony Brown is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Texas Tech and Colorado, and signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has also been a member of the New York Giants and Washington Football Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquez Stevenson</span> American football player (born 1998)

Marquez Stevenson is an American football wide receiver for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Houston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Markway</span> American football player (born 1997)

Kyle Markway is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Watkins</span> American football player (born 1998)

Austin Watkins Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UAB. Watkins has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Memphis Showboats, Cleveland Browns, and Birmingham Stallions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daylen Baldwin</span> American football player (born 1997)

Daylen Baldwin is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Morgan State, Jackson State, and Michigan.

D. J. Montgomery is an American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Austin Peay. He has also been a member of the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Houston Texans, and Michigan Panthers.

References

  1. ↑ Batterson, Steve (May 6, 2018). "RI grad Willies gets a shot with Browns". Dispatch-Argus-QCOnline . Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  2. ↑ Morehouse, Marc (October 27, 2018). "Willies announces transfer on Instagram". The Gazette . Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  3. ↑ Caplan, Jeff (March 28, 2016). "Transfer receiver Derrick Willies is giving Texas Tech high hopes". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  4. ↑ Levins, Matt (April 30, 2018). "Willies signs with Cleveland". The Hawk Eye . Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Browns sign 13 undrafted free agents". ClevelandBrowns.com. May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns – September 9th, 2018-Snap counts". Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Ravens vs. Browns:Play-by-Play". ESPN.com . Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  8. ↑ McDonald, Charles (October 7, 2018). "The Browns finally won a Sunday game, but not without plenty of drama". SB Nation . Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Browns sign WR Breshad Perriman, place Derrick Willies on IR, make other roster moves". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 13, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Browns cut roster to 53 players". ClevelandBrowns.com. August 31, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Browns announce nine additions to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. September 1, 2019. Archived from the original on September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  12. ↑ @HBalzer721 (January 7, 2020). "Browns practice-squad contracts expired Monday: DB Tigie Sankoh; WR Derrick Willies" (Tweet). Retrieved January 9, 2020– via Twitter.
  13. ↑ Smith, Pete (November 17, 2020). "Browns Sign WR Derrick Willies to Practice Squad". SI.com . Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Browns place 5 on COVID-19 list". ClevelandBrowns.com. December 26, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Browns sign 14 players". ClevelandBrowns.com. January 18, 2021.
  16. ↑ "Browns place WR Derrick Willies on Reserve/Retired list". WEWS. July 30, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  17. ↑ Mueller, Jared (February 17, 2022). "Browns waive WR Derrick Willies along with other smaller NFL moves". Browns Wire. USA Today . Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  18. ↑ Camenker, Jacob (February 23, 2022). "USFL rosters 2022: Complete draft results, team-by-team picks for new football league". The Sporting News . Retrieved March 5, 2022.
  19. ↑ @USFLBandits (April 23, 2022). "Roster Updates" (Tweet). Retrieved April 23, 2022– via Twitter.
  20. ↑ @USFLBandits (May 12, 2022). "Transferred to inactive roster" (Tweet). Retrieved May 12, 2022– via Twitter.
  21. ↑ @USFLBandits (May 20, 2022). "Roster Updates" (Tweet). Retrieved May 24, 2022– via Twitter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.