For a player who’s yet to play a down of college football, Brandon Willis has certainly drawn plenty of attention over the past year. Then again, when you’ve transferred three times in less than one calendar year, the situation becomes akin to a car wreck and people have no choice but to gawk.
As has been rumored since it was announced he was transferring -- again -- from North Carolina earlier this month, Willis in the process of enrolling at UCLA -- again -- and attended the Bruins’ practice Monday. Willis stated that he should be officially reenrolled at the school at some point this week, less than six months after transferring from the school so he could transfer back to UNC.
And, he says, this time he’s planning on sticking around. Honestly.
“I’m planting roots now,” Willis said. “This is where I want to be. Coach Neuheisel has welcomed me back with open arms.”
Willis said that he will submit a request for a waiver that would allow him to play for the Bruins in 2011.
Additionally, Willis stated that “differences with his position coach”, and not the departure of Butch Davis, led to his decision to leave UNC a second time.
As for the reasons behind all of the attention paid to Willis’s various cross-country jaunts, the defensive lineman was a four-star member of the Tar Heels’ 2010 recruiting class and the No. 7 defensive end in the country according to Rivals.com.
