University of Miami Athletics
91

Gerald Willis III

position

Defensive Line

Height

6-2

Weight

280 lbs.

Class

Sophomore

Hometown

New Orleans, La.

Previous School

Florida

High School

Edna Karr

Gerald Willis III - Football - University of Miami Athletics

2018 ALL-AMERICA, SECOND TEAM (Sports Illustrated)
2018 ALL-ACC, SECOND TEAM

2018 (Redshirt Senior): Delivered dominant final season, starting all 12 games in regular season and earning second-team All-ACC honors…Led ACC with 18.0 tackles for loss, more than any defensive tackle in FBS…Finished with career-high 59 total tackles, 4.0 sacks, one fumble recovery and two PBUs…18.0 TFLs were most by Hurricane since DE Calais Campbell in 2006 (20.5)…Started and delivered dominant outing in season opener against LSU (Sept. 2), finishing with career-high eight tackles (four solo) and a career-best four (4.0) tackles for loss…Performance of four TFLs was first by Hurricane since Marcus Robinson in 2008…Added one sack and one quarterback hurry vs. Tigers…Earned ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for dominant opener, which marked his first game action since November 26, 2016…Started and had one tackle in win over Savannah State (Sept. 8)…Dominated in start at Toledo (Sept. 15), finishing with five solo tackles, three tackles for loss (10 yards ) and one sack (five yards)…Recorded five tackles (two solo) and 3.0 tackles for loss in start vs. FIU (Sept. 22)…Started and finished with four total tackles and 0.5 TFLs in win over North Carolina (Sept. 27)…Named first-ever recipient of Outland Trophy Defensive Player of the Month on Oct. 7…Started and totaled five tackles (four solo), 2.0 tackles for loss and first fumble recovery of career in come-from-behind win over Florida State (Oct. 6)…Midseason addition to watch list for Chuck Bednarik Award, honoring nation’s top defensive player…Selected as Midseason All-America by ESPN…Tied career high with eight tackles and added 0.5 TFLs in start at Virginia (Oct. 13)…Started and finished with three tackles and 1.0 TFL at Boston College (Oct. 26)…Had fifth performance of at least 2.0 TFLs in start vs. Duke (Nov. 3), finishing with six total tackles, 2.0 TFLs (10 yards) and one 8-yard sack…Posted five total tackles (four solo) and 1.0 TFL in start at Georgia Tech (Nov. 10)…Credited with five total tackles in start at Virginia Tech (Nov. 17)…Had four tackles and one 11-yard sack in final home start vs. Pittsburgh (Nov. 24)…Did not compete in New Era Pinstripe Bowl vs. Wisconsin (Dec. 27) to begin rehab on hand injury suffered during season.

2017 (Redshirt Junior): Did not see any game action, took leave of absence from program for season.

2016 (Redshirt Sophomore): Saw action in nine games and totaled 19 tackles (13 solo)…Had 5.5 tackles for loss (18 yards) and 1.5 sacks (eight yards)…Added two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry…Made Miami debut against FAU (Sept. 10) and recorded two solo tackles, both for loss…Had 2.0 TFLs against Owls totaling seven yards, including first sack of college career (three yards)…Totaled three tackles (two solo) with 1.5 TFLs (3 yards) in road win at Appalachian State (Sept. 17)…Had four solo tackles and 1.0 TFL (two yards) in road win at Georgia Tech (Oct. 1)…Totaled two tackles and one half-sack against Florida State (Oct. 8)…Missed games against North Carolina (Oct. 15) and Virginia Tech (Oct. 20) due to injury…Returned against Notre Dame (Oct. 29) and had one solo tackle…Added one solo tackle against Pittsburgh (Nov. 5)…Had one tackle in win at Virginia (Nov. 12)…Totaled two tackles (one solo) and 0.5 TFLs in win at NC State (Nov. 19)…Had three tackles (one solo) and two PBUs in regular season finale win over Duke (Nov. 26).

2015 (Sophomore): Forced to sit out season due to NCAA transfer rules.

2014 (True Freshman, Florida): Played in eight games as a true freshman and recorded 14 total tackles…Also had two quarterback hurries…Forced a fumble in the Birmingham Bowl against ECU at the opponents one-yard line that was recovered by the Gators, preventing the Pirates from scoring…Recovered a fumble against Eastern Kentucky and the Gators scored a touchdown on the ensuing possession.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played in the 2014 Under Armour All-American Game…Named  2013 First-Team All-USA by USA Today and MaxPreps Second Team All-American…Named the All-Metro and District 9-4A Defensive Player of the Year as both a junior and senior…Led Edna Karr to four-consecutive Class 4A state finals berths and four-straight district titles… Recorded a total of 289 tackles with 62 TFL, 36 sacks, one interception and one defensive touchdown during his high school career…Totaled 107 tackles with 43 tackles-for-loss, including 15 sacks, as a senior in 14 games…Named a second-team All-American and first-team LSWA Class 4A all-state recipient as a junior…Recorded 141 tackles with 28 TFL and 15 sacks in his junior season…Chose Florida over Alabama, Arkansas, Florida State, LSU, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A&M and TCU…Coached by Jabbar Juluke and Nathaniel Jones.