2023 Football Roster
Roster
Gavin Willis
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 212
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Louisville, Ky.
- High School:
- Ballard
Career: 2024 All-Patriot League Second Team ... 2024 Academic All-Patriot League ... National Defensive Player of the Week (11/11/24) ... three-time PL Defensive Player of the Week (9/30/24, 11/11/24, 11/25/24) ... 2024 FCS leader with five fumble recoveries.
2024 (Sophomore): All-Patriot League Second Team ... Academic All-Patriot League ... started all 12 games at linebacker ... recipient of Bucknell's Clarke Hinkle Award: The Outstanding Defensive Back or Linebacker ... led the Bison with 129 tackles (72 solo), including 11 tackles for a loss and two sacks ... recorded and interception, five pass breakups, two quarterback pressures, and two blocked kicks ... led all FCS schools with five fumble recoveries ... among FCS schools, his 129 total tackles ranked fifth and 72 solo tackles were tied for third in the nation ... 129 tackles ranked second in the PL ... 11 tackles for a loss ranked fourth in the PL ... had double-digit tackles in seven games ... made nine tackles, two sacks, and recovered two fumbles, including one in overtime in 38-35 OT win over Lehigh ... made a career-high 19 tackles against Cornell ... had 13 tackles, including two for a loss and a fumble recovery in win over Lafayette ... recovered two fumbles, including a 79-yard scoop and score in win over Fordham ... had two pass breakups and two blocked kicks against Holy Cross ... had 12 tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a quarterback pressure in win over Colgate.
2023 (Freshman): One of two freshmen to appear in all 11 games … made six starts, including one a defensive back and five at linebacker … finished second on the roster with 69 tackles, including 30 solo stops … registered 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack … also posted one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry … recorded double-digit tackles twice, including a season-best 15 at Fordham … made 11 tackles against Penn … posted nine tackles in back-to-back games against Lehigh and Colgate.
Ballard High School: Lettered two years in football for the Ballard Bruins … earned First Team All-District and All-State recognition … named 6A District 5 Player of the Year … led team to district and region titles, as well as state semifinal runners-up spot with an 11-3 record … finished with 189 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks and two interceptions.
Personal: Gavin Noble Willis … born Aug. 7, 2004 in Louisville, K.Y. … son of Jennifer Taylor and Adrian Morton.
