Patrick Willis would choose Ole Miss all over again if he could

Talk of Champions

OMSpirit

Sports

4.9 • 657 Ratings

🗓️ 25 October 2024

⏱️ 39 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

All-time Ole Miss football great Patrick Willis this year became just the third Rebel in history inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He returned to his old Oxford stomping grounds on Thursday — holding a fan meet-and-greet and question-and-answer session at Back Nine on the Square.

The event was made possible by RiverLand Roofing. Text or call RiverLand today for all your roofing needs: 662-644-4297.

“Home is where the heart is,” Willis said. “I can say that when I came to Ole Miss in 2003, and just my time here at Ole Miss, if I had to do it all over again, I would choose Ole Miss all over again.”

Willis is one of the most decorated defensive players in Ole Miss football history. He was a consensus All-American as a senior in 2006, when he also won the Butkus Award and Lambert Trophy as the nation’s best linebacker.

Willis twice led the SEC in tackles and was selected to the most first-team All-American squads (13) ever by a Rebel in a single season. He was a first-team All-American in 2005 and 2006 and two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Willis was the 11th overall selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2007 NFL Draft and won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in his debut season. He played eight seasons and was named to seven Pro Bowls.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	All-time Ole Miss great Patrick Willis returned to his old Ole Miss stomping grounds on Thursday, holding an event at Back Nine on the Square sponsored by River Landruthan.
0:09.0	Along with meeting with Ole Miss fans, he held a question and answer session on his decorated Ole Miss and eight-year NFL career, which resulted in Willis becoming just the third Ole Miss Rebel ever inducted in the Pro Football
0:20.8	Hall of Fame. Willis and Bruiser Carnard are the only Ole Miss Rebels in history that are
0:25.0	members of both a Pro Football Hall of Fame and college football Hall of Fame. Willis is one of the
0:29.4	most decorated defensive players in Ole Miss Football history, a consensus All-American as a senior in 2006,
0:34.9	but he also won the Buccas Award and Lambert Trophy as the nation's
0:38.0	best lineback.
0:39.0	Willis twice led the SEC in tackles and was selected to the most first team of All-American
0:42.8	teams, 13 ever by an Ole Miss in a single season.
0:47.2	He ranked six all-time at Ole Miss with 355 career tackles, and he's tied for six with 33
0:51.7	career tackles for loss. I do want to thank Riverland roofing one more time, Billy and Tate.
0:58.0	Quite literally we want to be here without you guys because I'm sure you actually put the roof on this building.
1:03.0	I would also like to thank Back Nine what a perfect venue.
1:07.0	All the work that all the staff has been putting in.
1:09.0	Literally want to be possible without you guys as well.
1:11.6	And then also thank you for the drink sponsor in Urbano Superwater.
1:15.6	Try that out. That's Patrick's favorite drink.
1:17.6	And obviously, you've got from the good places, so it might bring you some life and success too.
1:22.6	Patrick, appreciate you. Let's take a seat and kick this thing off.
1:25.6	Yes. Again, had a chance to meet Riverland, Billy.
1:29.5	Thank you for sharing the story with me.
1:32.1	I'm just rooting for you that you continue to do great things.
	...

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