One of the players that has the chance to benefit the most from an offseason of turnover and draft declarations is tight end Brayden Willis.
Willis split time at H-back/tight end with [autotag]Jeremiah Hall[/autotag] and [autotag]Austin Stogner[/autotag] as part of a platoon that [autotag]Lincoln Riley[/autotag] would roll out in 2021. With Hall now in the NFL and Stogner with South Carolina, a huge opportunity has presented itself to the senior tight end.
Following [autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag], [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag], and [autotag]Eric Gray[/autotag]’s additions to preseason watch lists, [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag] was named to the [autotag]Mackey Award[/autotag] watch list for 2022. [autotag]Mark Andrews[/autotag] is the only Oklahoma Sooners tight end to win the annual award.
Brayden Willis named to the Mackey Award Watch Listhttps://t.co/oiInJQpTMS@Bwillis_11 | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/BSacyoOUMB
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) July 22, 2022
Willis received just 20 targets in 2021 but turned that into 14 receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns. No reception was bigger than this one just before halftime in Bedlam.
With the Sooners trailing by seven with under a minute to play in the first half, Willis got one-on-one coverage on the outside and beat his man into the end zone on the fade route for the touchdown. It was a beautiful throw by [autotag]Caleb Williams[/autotag] and a beautiful catch by Willis for the touchdown.
Brayden Willis goes up and GETS IT đ€đ„. @OU_Football ties up Bedlam with 37 seconds left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/NacgiwDvFN
— 247Sports (@247Sports) November 28, 2021
He’s shown to be an impact blocker in the running game and has the hands to be a fantastic weapon in the passing game. If he and Dillon Gabriel can build off of this highlight from spring practice, Brayden Willis will be one of the breakout stars for the 2022 Oklahoma Sooners.
Dillon Gabriel âïž Brayden Willis đ€Ż
The toe drag đ„đ„
(via @OU_Football)
— 247Sports (@247Sports) April 6, 2022
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