Malik Willis Key Stats:
Quarterback, Liberty (fuck Jerry Falwell)
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 219
Jerry Falwell: Rotting in Hell
RAS: N/A
Games Watched:
Old Dominion, Ole Miss, Syracuse, Eastern Michigan, Army, NC State (2020)
Positives Scouts Saw:
- Elite athleticism
- Elite arm strength
- Eye for the big play
Negatives Scouts Saw:
- Slow decision making
- Inconsistent accuracy/timing
- Bad footwork
Positives that I Saw:
- Most fun tape I watched of all the QBs (by far)
- Incredible in space, incredible arm, incredible throwing on the run
- Gorgeous pump fake and hard count
Negatives that I Saw:
- Terrible footwork/footwork mechanics
- Accuracy is inconsistent
- Plays hero ball, leading to unnecessary turnovers
Malik Willis as a Prospect:
Mailk Willis is a nearly-generational athletic talent, with major shortcomings that he will need to improve upon to fulfill his potential. Willis has a god-tier arm, and because of that he can sometimes get away with launching the ball 55 yards off his back foot. In the NFL, he won’t be so lucky and will need to work on planting and using his entire body in his release. Willis is a pure, hold your breath every time he touches the ball type of star, who can hopefully develop into one of the reasons why football is still fun to watch.
Fantasy Football Potential: Assuming Willis is the first QB taken in April, he should be the unquestioned 1.01 in 1QB dynasty rookie drafts. If he can work on his accuracy and mechanics, we will have to rename the Konami Code into the Willis Code because SHEESH this dude is nasty. I’m not drafting him in redraft to be my starter, but he is the highest upside rookie QB in this draft, and it’s not close. People valuing Willis as the 1.01 in Superflex Dynasty do so because he truly can break the game with his rushing ability and huge arm.
Overall:
Malik Willis is like watching me play Madden when I have a rushing QB. I have literally one read, if it’s covered I run. I’m throwing deep balls all the time. I’ll throw 5 interceptions in a game and still win. Willis is similar, he is a player who has an unbelievably high range of outcomes; the most appealing part of his profile is what we think he can eventually become.
Did his pro day inspire a dramatic rise up the board? Well, yeah of course it did, but he became the name to watch because it’s clear that he has grown as a college player and has the potential to continue. He has two years of solid production (in both seasons he had over 2,000 passing yards, 20 TDs, 800 rushing yards, and 11 rushing TDs), but the tape shows a player much more inclined to take what defenses gave him by the end of his last season. The bottom line is that the NFL is prepared more now than ever before to nurture a player with the type of talent Willis has and allow him to grow into the player he has the potential to be.
Malik Willis Reminds Me Of:
Kordell Stewart
Grade: 80/100
