Matt Willis (American football)
Encyclopedia
Matthew Anthony Willis is an American football
wide receiver
for the Denver Broncos
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
at UCLA
.
at UCLA
and during his career there, he made 21 appearances with 24 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He majored in sociology.
as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 4, 2007. In his rookie year, he played in five games making one reception for 11 yards, he also spent some time on defense making one tackle. He was released from the team's practice squad on September 17, 2008 to make room for defensive tackle J'Vonne Parker
.
The following year, Willis was waived during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the team's practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2010 after offensive tackle Herb Taylor
was waived. In a preseason game on August 15, 2010 against the Cincinnati Bengals
, Willis dropped a pass from former Heisman Trophy
winner Tim Tebow
which would have been a huge gain for Tim Tebow's first appearance in a Broncos uniform. Apart from that, though, Willis did well in camp and in pre-season.
On October 17, 2010, in a game against the New York Jets
, Willis suffered a broken foot, and was placed on the season-ending Injured Reserve.
, Willis participated as a contestant on G4
's American Ninja Warrior
. Willis succeeded in the first round competition but was too slow in completing it and was eliminated before he could go to the semi-finals.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
.
College career
Willis played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
and during his career there, he made 21 appearances with 24 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He majored in sociology.
Baltimore Ravens
Willis was signed by the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 4, 2007. In his rookie year, he played in five games making one reception for 11 yards, he also spent some time on defense making one tackle. He was released from the team's practice squad on September 17, 2008 to make room for defensive tackle J'Vonne Parker
J'Vonne Parker
J'Vonne Dieunti Parker is an American football defensive tackle for the who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
.
Denver Broncos
Willis was signed to the practice squad of the Denver Broncos on December 23, 2008 and remained there through the end of the season.The following year, Willis was waived during final cuts on September 5 and re-signed to the team's practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2010 after offensive tackle Herb Taylor
Herb Taylor (American football)
Herbert Reginald Taylor, II is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
was waived. In a preseason game on August 15, 2010 against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
, Willis dropped a pass from former Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winner Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
which would have been a huge gain for Tim Tebow's first appearance in a Broncos uniform. Apart from that, though, Willis did well in camp and in pre-season.
On October 17, 2010, in a game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Willis suffered a broken foot, and was placed on the season-ending Injured Reserve.
Other activities
Shortly after the NFL lockoutLockout
Lockout may refer to:* Lockout , a type of work stoppage* Lockout * Lockout chip, a computer chip in a video game system to prevent use of unauthorized software* Lock-out device, part of a signaling system used on game shows...
, Willis participated as a contestant on G4
G4
G4, G.IV, G04, G.4 or G-4 may refer to:- Aircraft :* AEG G.IV, a German World War I heavy bomber* Caudron G.4, a 1915 French biplane* Friedrichshafen G.IV, a 1918 German medium bomber* Gotha G.IV, a 1916 German heavy bomber...
's American Ninja Warrior
American Ninja Warrior
American Ninja Warrior is a spin-off of Sasuke. It began on December 12, 2009 in Los Angeles, California, with the top 10 competitors moving on to compete at Mount Midoriyama in Japan...
. Willis succeeded in the first round competition but was too slow in completing it and was eliminated before he could go to the semi-finals.