Brandon Willis

Position:
Defensive Tackle
Height:
6-3
Weight:
270
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Duncan, S.C.
High School:
Bynes/UCLA

Enrolled at Carolina in January, 2010 and competed in spring practice • Transferred to UCLA on August 19, 2010, after two weeks of fall camp • Transferred back to North Carolina and enrolled in the first semester of summer school in May, 2011.

Byrnes High School
SuperPrep All-America • One of five winners of the Franklin D. Watkins Trophy, which is given to an African-American high school male athletes who help promote high academic standards and a commitment to community service • Willis volunteered at local soup kitchens, volunteered for breast cancer awareness program, and developed and ran several local sports camps for local youth • Finalists are chosen based on their unweighted grade point average (Willis had a 4.0 GPA), their personal statements, extra curricular activities, community service, and letters of recommendation • Considered the No. 6 defensive tackle in the country and No. 69 player in the nation by Rivals.com • Member of the Rivals100 team • Member of the Scout300 • 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 • Member of the ESPN150 • 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.

Personal
Son of Gary and Wanda Willis • Born Aug. 5, 1991 • Would choose to play for the Philadelphia Eagles if he could pick any team in the NFL • Pet peeve is annoying people • New Year's resolution was to make good grades and become the best player he could be • Favorite type of food is Chinese • People say he looks like NFL player Michael Vick • Would like to visit Brazil • His father, Gary, has had the biggest impact on his life • Exercise and sport science major.