Texas Tech Football is WR and QB-U, so it’s no surprise to see one of the best, Derrick Willies, earn a spot on the coveted Senior Bowl Watch List.
Senior wide receiver Derrick Willies has made some incredible plays in his career with Texas Tech Football, and if he can continue to build on his legacy as a Red Raider, he could earn a spot in the Senior Bowl in January in Mobile, Alabama on January 27, 2018.
According to the press release, Willies was one of 400 senior college football players to be named to the watch list. With just 100 roster spots available for the Senior Bowl, it’s important to identify the Watch List players in the preseason, so players step their games up throughout the season.
While being named to the Watch List isn’t the end-all for seniors hoping for another shot in front of NFL personnel, it does help scouts in making beneficial evaluations that could affect a players’ Draft stock later on.
It’s important to note that players can be added last minute, as was the case with former Nevada safety Duke Williams back in 2013. Williams was participating in the East/West game when his agent received a call from the Senior Bowl offering an invitation.
OT Le’Raven Clark (Indianapolis Colts), and WR DeAndre Washington (Miami Dolphins) were the last Texas Tech Football players to participate in the Senior Bowl. Patrick Mahomes declared for the 2016 NFL Draft as a junior, so he was ineligible for participation.
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Derrick Willies arrived at Texas Tech before the 2016 season, where he lead the nation in receiving at Trinity Valley Community College averaging 23.6 yards-per-reception.
In his career with Texas Tech Football, Willies has amassed 22 catches for 356 yards, and three touchdowns. While that might seem like a low number to most, consider how many receivers were targeted in the 2016 season, and remember that spreading the football out makes the Air Raid so difficult to defend.
Expect wide receivers, Derrick Willies, Dylan Cantrell, Keke Coutee, Quan Shorts, Ja’Deion High, T.J. Vasher, and Zach Austin to be electric under fifth-year quarterback Nic Shimonek this season. But for the 6-foot-4, 210 pound Willies, he could emerge as a big-time playmaker, especially on passes downfield, where the offense is particularly potent.
Texas Tech is a week out from opening its 2017 campaign at home against Eastern Washington on Sept. 3, with kickoff at 3:00 p.m. CT. Tickets to Texas Tech Football games can be purchased by visiting Texas Tech’s ticketing page.