Justin Willis/Denton Paper

[50's PONY]

Football: Ryan quarterback commits to SMU
08:19 AM CST on Monday, January 17, 2005

By Chuck Cox / Staff Writer



After taking official visits to both New Mexico and Tulsa and also flirting with Kansas State, Ryan senior quarterback Justin Willis discovered over the weekend that everything he wanted in a college was just 30 miles down the road.

Willis completed his trip to SMU by orally committing to the Mustangs on Sunday. Oral commitments are non-binding. The first day recruits can officially sign is Feb. 2.


DRC/Hiroyuki Komae
Ryan quarterback Justin Willis (16) scrambles past Keller defenders at C.H. Collins Athletic Complex last season.
"When I got there, the people and the facilities were top-notch," said Willis, a two-year starter for the Raiders. "They also have a good business program there, so that played a part [in the decision]."

Willis, who finished his career at Ryan with 5,804 yards and 58 touchdowns through the air and 1,898 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground, led the Raiders to a 14-2 season and a Class 4A Division II state runner-up finish in 2003. He also helped Ryan go 12-2 last season after moving up to Class 5A.

The Mustangs, who finished 3-8 overall and 3-5 in Western Athletic Conference play last season, will return two senior quarterbacks in Tony Eckert and Jerad Romo next year, which means Willis should have a chance to become the starter soon. Eckert and Romo played the majority of the snaps last season but combined to throw just 10 touchdowns for the Ponies. SMU has not had a winning season since 1997 and will be joining Conference USA next season.

"I really like the head coach [Phil Bennett]," Willis said of SMU. "It’s a good situation for me to be in. They’re going into a new conference and they only have 18 seniors coming back. The quarterback situation looks good for me. I wanted to go somewhere where I would have a chance to play. It’s an up-and-coming program."

Willis, the 59th-ranked recruit in the Dallas/Fort Worth area by [ital] The Dallas Morning News [ital] and Rivals100.com, said he knows the academic standards at SMU are going to make it tough, especially in his freshman year. He also said the hard work will be well worth it in the end.

"If you get a degree from SMU, that’s a great accomplishment," he said. "I’m looking forward to doing that and also seeing what I can do on the football field."

Willis said playing in close proximity to home was not a factor in his decision, but Ryan head football coach Joey Florence is excited at the prospect of getting to see Willis play college football so close to home.

"I think it’s a great opportunity for him to play and a great opportunity for a great education," Florence said. "And they [SMU] could use some help down there. It’s exciting for us to get to see him play."

Willis is the third Ryan football player this year to orally commit to a Division I-A program. Linebacker Xavier Kelley has committed to Arizona, while safety Ishie Oduegwu has committed to Texas Tech.

"I’m glad it’s over," Willis said. "We’ve had a great run during all four years [of high school]. We’ve got a great coaching staff. National signing day is going to be a lot of fun."

Willis is also the second straight Ryan quarterback to go Division I. James Battle, a three-year starter for Ryan who led the team to two straight state titles, will be in his third season at TCU, SMU’s biggest rival, next year.

"I think it says a lot about those two young men," Florence said. "Both have worked very [deleted] the field and in the classroom. It’s nice to see good things happen to good people."

CHUCK COX can be reached at 940-566-6872.

[Webmaster]

FYI: Rivals has him listed at 6'1, 197 and 4.87 in the 40.
3 Stars (5.5)
#27 Dual-threat QB in the nation and #59 in the DMN Area Top 100

[gostangs]

I have seen this guy play and he seemed alot faster then 4.87 - wonder what he says he is?

[Ponymon]

As Stallion noted in an earlier thread, his coach says that he runs a 4.6 forty. The DMN article this morning said that he and Sanders both hit it off right away, so much so that the two will room together next year.