Brandon Willis (6-4, 255, 4.72) of Duncan Byrnes, South Carolina may be the best defensive lineman in the country. As a physical specimen, he looks like he has already spent three or four years in the NFL.
As a junior, Willis blew away most everybody, but his team was so talented, he never was in the game too much in the third or fourth quarters, although he was still able to record 144 tackles, 13 sacks, and 24 other tackles for a loss. I would say that 144 tackles for a defensive linemen that does not get to finish the game is a pretty outstanding feat in any league.
At a recent summer Tennessee lineman camp, he was not ever blocked by a high school offensive lineman and that also pretty much tells you the story on how good he really is or how good he really can become at the next level.
If the truth were known, Willis probably has offers from every college team in America. Can you imagine a defensive lineman running a 4.22 in the pro-agility shuttle? I can't either!
In the fall, Willis and teammate Corey Miller (6-4, 230, 4.6, 36 VJ, 4.32 SH) went to the Tennessee game with UCLA and they both were very impressed with the Volunteers and their defensive scheme. Miller had already given Florida State a verbal committment, but both Willis and Miller were so impressed with the Vols, they both committed to play for the them.
These two Volunteer verbal committments, coupled with the verbal committment of DeMarco Cobbs (6-2, 200, 4.4, 38 VJ, 4.2 SH) of Tulsa Central, made the biggest single day impact in the recruiting rankings of the year. With Willis and his 1,580 MEARS INDEX RATING and Miller with his 1,552 MEARS INDEX RATING; coupled with Cobbs and his 1,570 MEARS INDEX RATING; the Volunteers jumped from a #14 ranking to a #5 ranking.
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