INDIANAPOLIS — Liberty’s Malik Willis doesn’t sound like someone who will keep a list of quarterbacks drafted ahead of him. Or obsess over criticism from media and fans.
Willis, who’s a candidate to be the first quarterback drafted, gave the strong impression in a crowded interview Wednesday that he’s comfortable with himself.
“Everybody’s going to have an opinion of you,” he said at the scouting combine. “If you focus so hard on what everybody’s opinion is of you, you’re never going to be happy. I want to be happy, so I’m not going to think about it.”
His answers were impressive. So was what he did away from the horde of cameras and microphones. He was spotted, and captured on a camera phone, pulling something out of his bag to help a man in need on the street.
Was having lunch yesterday and saw one of the Combine guys helping out someone on some hard times…@malikwillis being great even when nobody is watching. How can you not be a fan of this guy? pic.twitter.com/BmFzUM66NU
— Ryan Lacey (@rlacey23) March 3, 2022
“Someone raised this young man the right way,” former NBA player Rex Chapman tweeted.
Willis didn’t always wear thick skin and blinders. He was scarred by the college recruiting process.
“That’s something I had to learn and develop,” he said. “I didn’t go to a lot of camps. The two or three I did go to, I’m trying to show them I can do something, I showed them I can do whatever. Then went on and felt like I’m (not) getting an even opportunity because I’m not highly recruited.
“That makes you feel bad. That’s why I hate recruiting.”
At 6-foot-0½, Willis doesn’t have ideal height. But he’s sturdy at 219 pounds and has a big-time arm, great running ability and 9½-inch hands, which exceed the desired 9-inch threshold.
He transferred from Auburn after two seasons, and in two years at Liberty threw for 5,107 yards, 47 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He rushed for 1,822 yards and 27 TDs.
He and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett are the favorites to be the first two quarterbacks picked in what’s been labeled a below-average class for passers. The Browns are exploring upgrades for Baker Mayfield, who will be in the last year of his contract in 2022, and could draft Willis or Pickett at No. 13 if one’s still on the board.
“Malik is like a crazy athlete,” Nevada quarterback Carson Strong said. “That dude, I mean, he can run, he can throw.
“So I think that this quarterback class just gets a lot of crap that we don’t deserve. Maybe I’m being personal and biased because I’m in it, but I think that there’s a lot of guys who have a ton of potential to be really good in the league.”
Willis won’t go there. He refuses to get ahead of himself. Maybe that’s because he gave up on his NFL dream after transferring to Liberty, which is a step down from the SEC.
“I thought I was done,” he said. “I thought I was just going to go and have fun and play my last two or three years. But I’m here now, so I’m happy.”
He was later asked when he realized he had an NFL future. He answered in the future tense.
“I guess when I make it. Until then I’m just working like I don’t have an idea, I don’t have a clue,” he said. “All 32 of the first-round picks and all the rest of the picks, they’re not set in stone. You’ve just got to leave it where it’s at and just keep working.”
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Willis came across as humble, confident, self-assured and likable, which isn’t an easy combination. After getting a 12-second question, he told the reporter, “That was a long question, brother.” When asked what offense fits his style, he said: “One that scores points. That’s all I’ve got for that one.”
Another reporter noted he seemed relaxed.
“This is a game. You can’t be stressed. Life is stressful,” Willis said. “You go through way worse stuff in life. I’m just grateful I get to come out here and play a game.”
He pointed to improved fundamentals stressed at Liberty for his breakthrough and said he continues to practice footwork, the consistency of his base and finishing throws to improve his accuracy. He completed 62.4 percent at Liberty.
“You’ve got to hold yourself to a standard, a work ethic you’ve got to have in order to do it,” he said. “You can be as talented as you want to, but if you’re not willing to work hard enough or not willing to learn from somebody else, then you’ll never be the best you can possibly be.”
Those traits and his “physical tools” are why Willis is willing to say he ranks himself as the top quarterback in the draft. He’s poised to be a first-round pick.
“I feel good about going to any team,” he said. “Not everybody gets that chance. So I feel blessed in that facet.
“I’m just trying to make a team. You can’t make all of these goals you can’t keep. I hate that. So I just want to go somewhere and make the team first. All of these people who think they’re going to go in and win rookie of the year and all of that, man, you ain’t never played an NFL game. The talent is like crazy. That’s just my opinion, though. I’ve got one.”
