As Willis and
a teammate were speaking about the changes coaches had made with one of
the drills, he received the call from his brother confirming that the
rumor was indeed true.
The younger Willis drowned after cramping up while swimming in the gravel
pits in nearby Camden. Police reports stated that Willis had been swimming
in deep water for several hours. Unfortunately, he began cramping and went
under the water. His friends were unable to get the 6-0 218 athlete out of
the water.
On the very day fullback/linebacker Detris Willis was set to begin
workouts with his Central High School teammates- his life so tragically
ended.
Sadly, these Willis brothers had just began to bond. Because of a broken
home, the Willis family had not grown up very close in their younger
years. In fact, Willis only recently found out that he has twin brothers,
who he thought were his half brothers. His mother was pregnant when she
left the family, a subject that Willis did not wish to elaborate upon.
He suffered a broken foot that required surgery and hopes to return to the
same level of play that earned him superb recognition a year ago. The 2005
Scout.com Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year was asked
to deliver part of his brother’s eulogy.
“I didn’t think that I was going to say anything, but I just got up there
and said, I just talked about how I kept it in my heart every time I would
go out there and how I would play for my brother.” Willis said when asked
about speaking at Detris’ funeral.
“I never got the chance to tell him that I know you wanted to do the
things that I’ve done and be like me, but I thank you because you help me
do what I do,” Willis said. “By my being the oldest, I feel like I need to
go out there and lead by example and show them.”
Patrick Willis said that he will not wear anything on his uniform that
will be a tribute to his younger brothers’ memory this season.
“I won’t do that,” he said. “I’ll carry him in my heart. That's the best
way."