University of North Carolina Athletics
Brandon Willis Returns To North Carolina
March 14, 2011 | Football
March 14, 2011
Chapel Hill, N.C. ----- The University of North Carolina has signed defensive tackle Brandon Willis to a scholarship agreement, head coach Butch Davis announced Monday. Willis originally enrolled at UNC in January 2010, and then transferred to UCLA last August. He will enroll in UNC's first session of summer school this May.
"Brandon lost his mother in high school and is very close with his grandmother, who lives in Burlington and is battling health issues," said Davis. "He and his father wanted to move back to the East coast to be with her. There were no hard feelings when Brandon originally left and when he inquired about the possibility of returning, we welcomed him back."
Willis sat out the 2010 season at UCLA due to NCAA transfer rules. The University of North Carolina will submit a waiver to the NCAA requesting Willis be declared immediately eligibility for competition for the 2011 season. If the waiver is granted, he will have four years of eligibility remaining.
Willis attended classes at UNC in the 2010 spring semester and two sessions of summer school. He transferred to UCLA two weeks into Carolina's fall training camp on Aug. 19.
North Carolina opens spring practice on Wednesday, March 16.
Brandon Willis
6-3, 270, DL
Duncan, S.C. (Byrnes/UCLA)
Originally enrolled at UNC in January, 2010 • Transferred to UCLA in August, 2010 • Considered the No. 6 defensive tackle in the country and No. 69 player in the nation by Rivals.com • Member of the Rivals100 team • Ranked the No. 3 player in South Carolina by Rivals.com • Considered the No. 4 player in South Carolina by The Charlotte Observer • Ranked the No. 8 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com • Rated the No. 5 defensive tackle by ESPN recruiting analyst Tom Lemming • Played in the prestigious U.S. Army All-America game in San Antonio • Earned first-team all-state, all-region and all-conference honors his final two seasons in high school • Named the conference defensive lineman of the year as a senior • Made 127 tackles, including 13 sacks, as a senior • Had 144 tackles, including 24 tackles for loss and 13 sacks, as a junior • Coached by Chris Miller at Byrnes • Son of Gary and Wanda Willis • Born Aug. 5, 1991.
Players Mentioned
