Red Raiders In The NFL
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Willies, Derrick

Derrick Willies
Bio
2018 (ROOKIE SEASON)
Willies has not played since Oct. 7.
Made an appearance in Cleveland's season-opening tie against the Steelers on Sept. 9 ... also saw playing time on the road in New Orleans (Sept. 16), against the New York Jets (Sept. 23) and in Oakland (Sept. 30) ... caught his first career pass in Cleveland's 12-9 victory over Baltimore on Oct. 7 ... finished the game with three catches for 61 yards, including a 39 yard pass that helped set up the Browns' game winning field goal in overtime.
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2017 SEASON (SENIOR)
Appeared in seven games with five starts during final season as a Red Raider … caught 18 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns … his 304 yards through the air ranked fifth on the team as did his three touchdown receptions … caught multiple passes in five of his seven appearances on the year … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS … recorded best performance of his Red Raider career in season opener versus Eastern Washington (9/2) … hauled in four passes for a career-high 126 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles … performance included a 75-yard touchdown grab, the longest of his career … had another touchdown grab against Arizona State (9/16) as part of a four-reception, 56-yard outing … brought in four receptions again at Houston (9/23), resulting in 41 yards … opened Big 12 play with three receptions for 30 yards against Kansas … lone reception at Kansas (10/7) came on a 32-yard touchdown strike late in the game … final appearance of the year against Iowa State (10/21) … finished with two catches for 19 yards versus the Cyclones … missed the final six games of the season, including the Birmingham Bowl … AWARDS AND HONORS … named to the Senior Bowl watch list prior to the season.
2016 SEASON (JUNIOR)
Became a reliable option as an outside receiver during first year as a Red Raider … played in eight games while making four starts … missed four games midway through the season due to injury … recorded 288 receiving yards and two touchdowns off 18 catches … ranked seventh on the team in receiving yards and tied for eighth in receptions … averaged 16.0 yards per catch which ranked third on the team among players with at least 10 receptions … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS … made his Red Raider debut with two catches for 47 yards in season opener against Stephen F. Austin (9/3) … followed with one catch for 59 yards at Arizona State (9/10) … his 59-yard reception went for a touchdown and marked his longest catch of the season … had three catches for 38 yards versus Louisiana Tech (9/17) and one catch for six yards in Big 12 opener against Kansas (9/29) … his catch against Kansas went for his second touchdown of the season … recorded two catches for 18 yards at Kansas State (10/8) before missing the next three games … returned to make three catches for a season-high 63 yards against Texas (11/5) … posted a season high with four receptions at Oklahoma State … totaled 50 yards through the air against the Cowboys … final performance of the season came via two catches for seven yards at Iowa State.
2015 SEASON (SOPHOMORE AT TRINITY VALLEY C.C.)
Played one season at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas for head coach Brad Smiley ... named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America First Team ... All-Conference wide receiver ... caught 49 passes for 1,115 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2015 ... led the nation in yards per reception (23.6) and ranked among national leaders in receiving yards (No. 3, 1,115), yards receiving per game (No. 4, 115.5) and touchdown catches (No. 5, 14) ... finished year with six 100-yard receiving games and four multiple touchdown games ... led the Cardinals to a 7-3 overall and 5-1 conference record ... Trinity Valley led the nation in passing yardage ... named the nation’s NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21 after catching eight passes for 211 yards (26.4 yards per catch) and three receiving touchdowns at Arkansas Baptist (10/17) ... caught seven passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns at Tyler J.C. (8/29) ... was on the receiving end of five passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns versus Texas A&T (9/26) ... consensus four-star recruit ... rated the nation’s No. 3 junior college player in the country by ESPN ... rated a four-star wide receiver by 247Sports and Scout ... outstanding student who sported a 3.9 grade point average in junior college ... CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Oklahoma, Georgia, Fresno State, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma State, TCU and Washington State.
2014 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT IOWA)
Played his freshman season at the University of Iowa ... finished season with four receptions for 71 yards in five games played ... caught a touchdown pass in Iowa’s 17-13 win against Ball State.
2013 SEASON (FRESHMAN AT IOWA)
Redshirt season ... did not play.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Ill. ... played for head coach Bryan Stortz ... two-time All-State selection ... set high school career records for receiving yards and touchdown receptions and single game records for receptions and yards ... also played end and safety on defense ... recorded 56 receptions for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior at Rock Island ... finished with 57 receptions for 934 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior at Burlington High School ... selected to play in the International Bowl ... named team captain as a junior ... competed in track and field (hurdles and sprints) and basketball ... claimed state track and field titles in the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and 300-meter dash ... member of the Prep Honor Roll.
PERSONAL
Derrick C. Willies ... born in Banning, Calif. ... son of Derrick and Mandie Willies ... grew up in California before moving to Illinois for his sophomore year of high school ... a human sciences major at Texas Tech.
Willies has not played since Oct. 7.
Made an appearance in Cleveland's season-opening tie against the Steelers on Sept. 9 ... also saw playing time on the road in New Orleans (Sept. 16), against the New York Jets (Sept. 23) and in Oakland (Sept. 30) ... caught his first career pass in Cleveland's 12-9 victory over Baltimore on Oct. 7 ... finished the game with three catches for 61 yards, including a 39 yard pass that helped set up the Browns' game winning field goal in overtime.
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Our guy @derrickwjr with a HUGE play in OT for the @Browns!
— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) October 7, 2018
??#WreckEm??pic.twitter.com/NTlj3RZ3sj
2017 SEASON (SENIOR)
Appeared in seven games with five starts during final season as a Red Raider … caught 18 passes for 304 yards and three touchdowns … his 304 yards through the air ranked fifth on the team as did his three touchdown receptions … caught multiple passes in five of his seven appearances on the year … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS … recorded best performance of his Red Raider career in season opener versus Eastern Washington (9/2) … hauled in four passes for a career-high 126 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles … performance included a 75-yard touchdown grab, the longest of his career … had another touchdown grab against Arizona State (9/16) as part of a four-reception, 56-yard outing … brought in four receptions again at Houston (9/23), resulting in 41 yards … opened Big 12 play with three receptions for 30 yards against Kansas … lone reception at Kansas (10/7) came on a 32-yard touchdown strike late in the game … final appearance of the year against Iowa State (10/21) … finished with two catches for 19 yards versus the Cyclones … missed the final six games of the season, including the Birmingham Bowl … AWARDS AND HONORS … named to the Senior Bowl watch list prior to the season.
2016 SEASON (JUNIOR)
Became a reliable option as an outside receiver during first year as a Red Raider … played in eight games while making four starts … missed four games midway through the season due to injury … recorded 288 receiving yards and two touchdowns off 18 catches … ranked seventh on the team in receiving yards and tied for eighth in receptions … averaged 16.0 yards per catch which ranked third on the team among players with at least 10 receptions … SEASON HIGHLIGHTS … made his Red Raider debut with two catches for 47 yards in season opener against Stephen F. Austin (9/3) … followed with one catch for 59 yards at Arizona State (9/10) … his 59-yard reception went for a touchdown and marked his longest catch of the season … had three catches for 38 yards versus Louisiana Tech (9/17) and one catch for six yards in Big 12 opener against Kansas (9/29) … his catch against Kansas went for his second touchdown of the season … recorded two catches for 18 yards at Kansas State (10/8) before missing the next three games … returned to make three catches for a season-high 63 yards against Texas (11/5) … posted a season high with four receptions at Oklahoma State … totaled 50 yards through the air against the Cowboys … final performance of the season came via two catches for seven yards at Iowa State.
2015 SEASON (SOPHOMORE AT TRINITY VALLEY C.C.)
Played one season at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas for head coach Brad Smiley ... named to the National Junior College Athletic Association All-America First Team ... All-Conference wide receiver ... caught 49 passes for 1,115 yards and 14 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2015 ... led the nation in yards per reception (23.6) and ranked among national leaders in receiving yards (No. 3, 1,115), yards receiving per game (No. 4, 115.5) and touchdown catches (No. 5, 14) ... finished year with six 100-yard receiving games and four multiple touchdown games ... led the Cardinals to a 7-3 overall and 5-1 conference record ... Trinity Valley led the nation in passing yardage ... named the nation’s NJCAA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 21 after catching eight passes for 211 yards (26.4 yards per catch) and three receiving touchdowns at Arkansas Baptist (10/17) ... caught seven passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns at Tyler J.C. (8/29) ... was on the receiving end of five passes for 134 yards and three touchdowns versus Texas A&T (9/26) ... consensus four-star recruit ... rated the nation’s No. 3 junior college player in the country by ESPN ... rated a four-star wide receiver by 247Sports and Scout ... outstanding student who sported a 3.9 grade point average in junior college ... CHOSE TEXAS TECH OVER: Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Oklahoma, Georgia, Fresno State, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma State, TCU and Washington State.
2014 SEASON (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN AT IOWA)
Played his freshman season at the University of Iowa ... finished season with four receptions for 71 yards in five games played ... caught a touchdown pass in Iowa’s 17-13 win against Ball State.
2013 SEASON (FRESHMAN AT IOWA)
Redshirt season ... did not play.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Ill. ... played for head coach Bryan Stortz ... two-time All-State selection ... set high school career records for receiving yards and touchdown receptions and single game records for receptions and yards ... also played end and safety on defense ... recorded 56 receptions for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior at Rock Island ... finished with 57 receptions for 934 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior at Burlington High School ... selected to play in the International Bowl ... named team captain as a junior ... competed in track and field (hurdles and sprints) and basketball ... claimed state track and field titles in the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and 300-meter dash ... member of the Prep Honor Roll.
PERSONAL
Derrick C. Willies ... born in Banning, Calif. ... son of Derrick and Mandie Willies ... grew up in California before moving to Illinois for his sophomore year of high school ... a human sciences major at Texas Tech.
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