ACC Football 2018: Midseason awards and superlatives
Defensive player of the year
If sacks were the main statistic for defensive players then Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell or FSU’s Brian Burns would be the choice here. If it was interceptions, Syracuse defensive back Andre Cisco could be up for the award. Yet it’s all around defensive player of the year and Miami defensive tackle Gerald Willis III has been dominant. Willis has required a double team all season and that hasn’t slowed the 300-pound redshirt senior down.
The Hurricanes lost three defensive tackles to the 2018 NFL Draft and wound up relying on Willis to man the middle with the departures of Anthony Moten, Kendrick Norton and RJ McIntosh. Willis, a Florida Gator disciplinary castoff also had to take a year off at Miami to get his life in order. Willis has been talented but unstable since starting his college career. He’s battled injuries, personal issues and discipline over his collegiate career.
Under the leadership of Mark Richt and Manny Diaz, Willis has come alive. In six games he already has logged 12.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. He’s a havoc player that opens up solo blocks for Joe Jackson and Jonathan Garvin as well as fellow interior linemen Pat Bethel and John Ford. Since the 1980’s the Hurricanes have had strong defensive tackle play dating back to Jerome Brown through Russell Maryland, Cortez Kennedy, Warren Sapp and Vince Wilfork.
Willis is keeping that Miami legacy alive and has looked the part with the turnover chain draped around his neck.