Jordan_Willis_(American_football)

Jordan Willis (American football)

Jordan Willis (American football)

American football player (born 1995)

Jordan Johnathan Willis (born May 2, 1995) is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Kansas State and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints.

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Early years

Willis attended Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri.[1] He had 58 tackles and nine sacks as a senior and 60 tackles and 13 sacks as a junior. Willis also served as the student body president as a senior. He committed to Kansas State University to play college football.

College career

As a true freshman at Kansas State in 2013, Willis played in nine games and had one sack. As a sophomore in 2014, he started all 13 games and had 26 tackles and 4.5 sacks. As a junior in 2015, Willis again started all 13 games, recording 36 tackles and 9.5 sacks.[2][3][4] As a senior, he was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after recording 52 tackles and 11.5 sacks.[5][6][7]

Professional career

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Cincinnati Bengals

Willis was drafted by Cincinnati Bengals in the third round, 73rd overall, in the 2017 NFL Draft.[10]

On September 10, 2019, Willis was released by the Bengals.[11]

New York Jets

On September 11, 2019, Willis was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets.[12]

San Francisco 49ers

On October 27, 2020, Willis was traded to the San Francisco 49ers for a sixth-round pick in 2022. The Jets also sent their 2021 seventh-round pick to the 49ers.[13] Willis was placed on the injured reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 23, 2020,[14] and activated on December 2.[15] On January 1, 2021, Willis was placed on injured reserve.[16] He finished the season with a career-high 2.5 sacks.

Willis re-signed with the 49ers on a one-year contract on March 23, 2021.[17] On June 17, Willis was suspended for the first six games of the 2021 season after violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.[18]

On January 22, 2022, in an NFC Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, with wind chill approaching zero degrees, snow falling, and five minutes remaining in the game, Willis blocked a critical punt by Corey Bojorquez, which was returned for the 49ers' sole touchdown of the game by safety Talanoa Hufanga.[19][20] That play tied the game 10–10 and allowed the 49ers to win with a field goal from Robbie Gould. For that effort, Jordan was awarded a game ball by 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.[21]

On March 23, 2022, Willis re-signed with the 49ers.[22] Willis was released during final roster cuts on August 30, but re–signed with the team the following day.[23] He was placed on injured reserve on September 14, 2022.[24] He was activated on November 12.[25]

Las Vegas Raiders

On March 20, 2023, Willis signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.[26] He was released on August 29, 2023.[27] On September 11, 2023, Willis signed with the team’s practice squad, but was released five days later.[28]

New Orleans Saints

On November 6, 2023, Willis was signed to the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints.[29] He was released on November 14.[30]

References

  1. [1]
    "Jordan Willis, Rockhurst , Strong-Side Defensive End". 247Sports. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  2. [2]
    Corbitt, Ken (August 3, 2016). "K-State's Jordan Willis strives for consistency". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  3. [3]
    "Jordan Willis looks to build off strong 2015 season". The Junction City Union. July 29, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  4. [4]
    Robinett, Kellis (September 29, 2016). "Jordan Willis quietly becomes K-State's loudest defender". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  5. [5]
    Robinett, Kellis (December 13, 2016). "Jordan Willis epitomizes Kansas State football, Bill Snyder says". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  6. [6]
    "Kansas State Wildcat Jordan Willis Is Destined For NFL Stardom". FOX Sports. December 13, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  7. [7]
    Corbitt, Ken (December 17, 2016). "Jordan Willis: Epitome of a Wildcat". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  8. [8]
    "Jordan Willis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  9. [9]
    "Jordan Willis, Kansas State, DE, 2017 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  10. [10]
    Toback, Rebecca (April 28, 2017). "Bengals 2017 NFL Draft: Cincinnati selects Kansas State DE Jordan Willis in Round 3". CincyJungle.com. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  11. [11]
    "Bengals Sign LB Reynolds, Waive DE Willis". Bengals.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  12. [12]
    Greenberg, Ethan (September 11, 2019). "Jets Claim DL Jordan Willis". NewYorkJets.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  13. [13]
    "49ers Announce Trade". 49ers.com. October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  14. [14]
    "49ers Announce Roster Moves". 49ers.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  15. [15]
    "49ers Announce Roster Moves". 49ers.com. December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  16. [16]
    "49ers Announce Roster Moves". 49ers.com. January 1, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  17. [17]
    "49ers Re-sign DL Jordan Willis". 49ers.com. March 23, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  18. [18]
    Wagoner, Nick (June 17, 2021). "Backup San Francisco 49ers DE Jordan Willis suspended six games for PED policy violation". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  19. [19]
    "Divisional Round - San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers - January 22nd, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  20. [20]
    Larrabee, Kirk (January 27, 2022). "Jordan Willis tells the story behind his famous blocked punt -- and why it was such a twist of fate for the 49ers". 49ers Webzone. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  21. [21]
    San Francisco 49ers [@49ers] (January 23, 2022). "Earned another opportunity. Next stop: NFC Championship" (Tweet) – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. [22]
    "49ers Re-Sign DL Jordan Willis". 49ers.com. March 23, 2022.
  23. [23]
    "49ers Announce 2022 Initial 53-Man Roster Ahead of NFL Deadline". 49ers.com. August 30, 2022.
  24. [24]
    "Jordan Willis Placed on Injured Reserve and Other Roster Moves". 49ers.com. September 14, 2022. Archived from the original on September 14, 2022. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  25. [25]
    "49ers Activate Four Players From Injured Reserve; Place Verrett on IR". 49ers.com. November 12, 2022.
  26. [26]
    Raiders Public Relations (March 20, 2023). "Raiders sign DL Jordan Willis". Raiders.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  27. [27]
    "Raiders finalize initial 53-man roster for the 2023 season". Raiders.com. August 29, 2023.
  28. [28]
    Damien, Levi (September 11, 2023). "Raiders re-sign veteran DE Jordan Willis to practice squad". Raiders Wire. USA Today.
  29. [29]
    Bouda, Nate. "Saints Sign DE Jordan Willis To Practice Squad". NFL Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  30. [30]
    New Orleans Saints (November 14, 2023). "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
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