02-20-2023, 11:08 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-27-2023, 03:52 PM by xenosthelegend. Edited 2 times in total.)
St. John's Alumnus First OL Taken in DSFL Draft
Harrison Bones, Senior Sports Writer
It all started here, in a quiet single family home just off the crowded main drag of Danvers. Justin Willis, only child of Adam and Leslie, never dreamed of Football glory as a kid. "I wanted to be a Hall of Fame Forward," he laughs as he sits down with us at his parent's dining room table. Willis, a 2050 graduate of St. John's Prep here in Danvers, started his childhood sporting career in Basketball and Track, the latter of which he set school and state records for shot-put. It wasn't until he reached his Sophomore year of high school that his frame began to bulk out, and he found the school's football coaches attempting to poach him.
"They really wanted me to play Tight End," Willis reminices, his cheerful demeanor on full display as he happily admits, "I didn't have the hands for it. I couldn't catch a ball to save my life!" But when put in run blocking situations, he found he could bully anyone in his division with ease.
"He had a mind for adjusting to defensive pressure," remembers Alden Carpenter, his former head coach, "We realized what we had when we started showing him tape and having him describe how the OL should have adjusted protections. He was an absolute natural."
Carpenter and his staff shifted Willis to Center after a brief stint at Right Guard to learn the interior ropes, and Center is where he would stay the remainder of his high school career.
It seemed he would be destined for a career at Center after committing to the University of Oregon as a Center and was placed second on the depth chart as a True Freshman. However, fate had other plans for Willis.
"We all thought we were cursed," Willis laughs, "I think we had 3 starting Linemen injured in the first two games. Coach just looked at me in desperation and said 'Can you play Tackle?' And of course I said yes!"
Willis proceeded to dominate the field at Right Tackle, culminating his impressive college career with a 0-sack Senior season. In a true surprise move, he became the first Lineman drafted in this year's DSFL Draft, becoming a Dallas Birddog in just the 3rd round of selections. But the Danvers boy hasn't let that go to his head just yet.
"It's an incredible honor," he says with genuine gratitude in his voice, "I'm happy that my skills were recognized and I'm ready to put the work in and show the professional leagues exactly what I'm made of."
Catch this year's Birddogs season opener this Thursday on WBZ Boston and support your local boy!
Harrison Bones, Senior Sports Writer
It all started here, in a quiet single family home just off the crowded main drag of Danvers. Justin Willis, only child of Adam and Leslie, never dreamed of Football glory as a kid. "I wanted to be a Hall of Fame Forward," he laughs as he sits down with us at his parent's dining room table. Willis, a 2050 graduate of St. John's Prep here in Danvers, started his childhood sporting career in Basketball and Track, the latter of which he set school and state records for shot-put. It wasn't until he reached his Sophomore year of high school that his frame began to bulk out, and he found the school's football coaches attempting to poach him.
"They really wanted me to play Tight End," Willis reminices, his cheerful demeanor on full display as he happily admits, "I didn't have the hands for it. I couldn't catch a ball to save my life!" But when put in run blocking situations, he found he could bully anyone in his division with ease.
"He had a mind for adjusting to defensive pressure," remembers Alden Carpenter, his former head coach, "We realized what we had when we started showing him tape and having him describe how the OL should have adjusted protections. He was an absolute natural."
Carpenter and his staff shifted Willis to Center after a brief stint at Right Guard to learn the interior ropes, and Center is where he would stay the remainder of his high school career.
It seemed he would be destined for a career at Center after committing to the University of Oregon as a Center and was placed second on the depth chart as a True Freshman. However, fate had other plans for Willis.
"We all thought we were cursed," Willis laughs, "I think we had 3 starting Linemen injured in the first two games. Coach just looked at me in desperation and said 'Can you play Tackle?' And of course I said yes!"
Willis proceeded to dominate the field at Right Tackle, culminating his impressive college career with a 0-sack Senior season. In a true surprise move, he became the first Lineman drafted in this year's DSFL Draft, becoming a Dallas Birddog in just the 3rd round of selections. But the Danvers boy hasn't let that go to his head just yet.
"It's an incredible honor," he says with genuine gratitude in his voice, "I'm happy that my skills were recognized and I'm ready to put the work in and show the professional leagues exactly what I'm made of."
Catch this year's Birddogs season opener this Thursday on WBZ Boston and support your local boy!