2019 NFL Draft Profile: Gerald Willis III a fit for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
By Dylan Grimm
How Willis’s game translates at the next level
When it comes to his style of play he’s a three technique tackle who plays best in a 4-3 scheme but is versatile enough to play in a multiple front scheme. Willis plays very aggressive and physical in the trenches which teams will love, although there has been more than one occasion that his aggressiveness has caused him to make the wrong read and miss a potential sack or tackle for loss.
His real strength is his hands on the line of scrimmage. He has come close to mastering the club move and often times relies on brute strength to move blockers out of the way. While Willis has many strengths he also has some issues with finding a successful second move to avoid would be blockers.
Due to his smaller frame for a defensive tackle, a double team at the NFL level will shut him down with his current skill set, but there is a great base of a player for a future team and coach to build up on. There is still plenty of work to be done to becoming a three down defensive tackle, but Willis has shown that he is willing to work for his successes.