Jedrick Wills

Jedrick Wills
refer to caption
Wills with the Cleveland Browns in 2021
No. 71 – Cleveland Browns
Position:Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1999-05-17) May 17, 1999 (age 25)
Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:307 lb (139 kg)
Career information
High school:Lafayette (Lexington)
College:Alabama (2017–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 1 / pick: 10
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Games played:53
Games started:53
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jedrick Wills Jr. (born May 17, 1999) is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the Browns in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.

Early life

Wills grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and attended Lafayette High School. He was named first-team All-State by the Associated Press as a junior and senior and was invited to play in the Under Armour All-America Game.[1] Rated the top college prospect in the state of Kentucky, Wills committed to play college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide over offers from Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and Notre Dame.[2]

College career

Wills appeared in 11 games as a true freshman with one start, which came when the Crimson Tide opened their game against Ole Miss with a six lineman formation.[3] Wills was named the starter at right tackle going into his sophomore season.[4][5] He started all 15 of the Crimson Tide's games and was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Offensive Lineman of the Week for week 7 against Missouri.[6]

Wills was named a first-team preseason All-American by Athlon Sports and to the second-team by the Associated Press, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, USA Today entering his junior season.[7][8] Wills was named a first-team midseason All-American by the Associated Press.[9] He was named first-team All-SEC and was a consensus second-team All-America selection at the end of the season after starting all of the Crimson Tides' games and missing only seven total blocking assignments in 771 total snaps played.[10][11] In January 2020, Wills announced that he would be forgoing his senior season to enter the 2020 NFL draft.[12]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 4+1⁄4 in
(1.94 m) 		312 lb
(142 kg) 		34+1⁄4 in
(0.87 m) 		10 in
(0.25 m)		 5.05 s 1.81 s 2.94 s 4.84 s 34.5 in
(0.88 m)		 9 ft 5 in
(2.87 m)
All values from NFL Combine[13][14]
Jedrick Wills (2020)

Wills was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round with the 10th overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.[15] Wills made his debut in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens before leaving the game due to a minor shin injury.[16] In Week 10, Wills won the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award for helping the Browns offense gain 231 rushing yards and a touchdown over the Houston Texans, becoming the first offensive lineman to win the award since 2013.[17] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Browns on December 24, 2020,[18] and activated two days later.[19] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[20]

On May 2, 2023, the Browns picked up the fifth-year option of Wills' contract.[21] He suffered an MCL injury in Week 9 and was placed on injured reserve on November 7, 2023.[22]

References

  1. ^ Rowland, Justin (June 14, 2016). "Jedrick Wills to play in Under Armour All-American Game". CatsIllustrated. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Champlin, Drew (November 15, 2016). "Elite offensive lineman Jedrick Wills commits to Alabama". AL.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  3. ^ Casagrande, Michael (January 13, 2018). "How every Alabama football freshman played in 2017". AL.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  4. ^ Potter, Charlie (October 5, 2018). "Jedrick Wills comfortable, confident in role as Alabama starter". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  5. ^ Paschall, David (October 19, 2018). "Jedrick Wills Jr. shapes up as next great Crimson Tide tackle". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  6. ^ Byington, Alex (March 25, 2019). "Wills Jr. anchors Alabama's new-look OL as one of two returning starters". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  7. ^ Potter, Charlie (June 19, 2019). "Alabama lands nine on Athlon Sports' Preseason All-America Team". 247Sports.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  8. ^ Lamb, Clint (August 21, 2019). "Alabama football: 5 Tide players land on USA TODAY Sports preseason All-American team". Roll Tide Wire. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  9. ^ Zenitz, Matt (October 15, 2019). "Four Alabama players named AP midseason All-Americans". AL.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  10. ^ Justice, Cameron (April 24, 2020). "Cleveland Browns select Jedrick Wills with first round pick in 2020 NFL Draft". News 5 Cleveland WEWS. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  11. ^ Bolch, Ben (April 15, 2020). "NFL draft: Jedrick Wills Jr. was born to play football". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Rodak, Mike (January 4, 2020). "Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills declares for NFL draft". AL.com. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  13. ^ "Jedrick Wills Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  14. ^ "2020 NFL Draft Scout Jedrick Wills College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  15. ^ Gribble, Andrew (April 23, 2020). "Browns select Alabama OT Jedrick Wills Jr. with No. 10 pick in 2020 NFL Draft". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  16. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (September 14, 2020). "Browns RT Jack Conklin listed as 'did not practice' for Bengals with ankle & finger injuries; Jedrick Wills limited with shin". Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  17. ^ Inbinett, Mark (November 20, 2020). "Jedrick Wills scores rare win for offensive linemen". AL.com. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  18. ^ Cabot, Mary Kay (December 24, 2020). "Browns LT Jedrick Wills Jr. placed on COVID-19 reserve as close contact unrelated to charity event; 'possibility' he'll face Jets". Cleveland.com. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  19. ^ Kelly, Kyle (December 26, 2020). "Browns place B.J. Goodson on the reserve/ COVID-19 list, activate Jedrick Wills". USAToday.com. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "2020 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  21. ^ Poisal, Anthony (May 2, 2023). "Browns pick up 5th-year option for Jedrick Wills Jr". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  22. ^ Russo, Kelsey (November 7, 2023). "Browns place T Jedrick Wills Jr. on injured reserve". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
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