StripeHype
FanSided

Cincinnati Bengals: 3 things to know about Damion Willis

By Steve Rivera

CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Janoris Jenkins #20 of the New York Giants breaks up a pass intended for Damion Willis #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 22: Janoris Jenkins #20 of the New York Giants breaks up a pass intended for Damion Willis #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
LINCOLN, NE – SEPTEMBER 15: Wide receiver Damion Willis #15 of the Troy Trojans runs after making a catch against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)
LINCOLN, NE – SEPTEMBER 15: Wide receiver Damion Willis #15 of the Troy Trojans runs after making a catch against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

If you don’t pay a lot of attention to Troy Football, the name Damion Willis won’t jump out at you. In 2018, he led the Sun Belt Conference in catches of 40-plus yards, as well as those that were 30-plus. He also finished second with eight touchdowns. On one game last season, he racked up 213 receiving yards on 10 receptions in a game against Louisiana.

Subsequently, he would be named to the All-Sun Belt First Team.

Most interesting is that Troy wasn’t his first stop in college football. Everything got going for him at East Mississippi Community College. As a sophomore, he led EMCC with 620 receiving yards, averaging 18.2 yards per catch. That same season, he had two games where had 100 yards receiving, helping the team to an 11-1 record and a No. 2 ranking in the NJCAA.

Willis was a solid contributor at Troy. In the Dollar General Bowl, he had 13 receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns as his team would beat Buffalo 42-32. For all his efforts, he wouldn’t even earn a trip to the NFL Combine.

Granted, it may have been a cosmic accident that Willis found Cincinnati or that the Bengals stumbled upon the Troy receiver. Either way, in Greens absence, Damion Willis is a significant find where an undrafted player is concerned.

Home/Bengals News