Ray Willis
Encyclopedia
Ray Willis is an American football
offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks
in the 4th round (105th overall pick) of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He played college football
for the Florida State University
Seminoles
.
He has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins
and New Orleans Saints
.
and was a letterman in football
. In football, as a senior, he was an All-District honoree, a Class 5A All-State honoree, and after his senior season, he was named an All-Midland Regional honorable mention by Prep Star, and was ranked the Super Prep's 28th best offensive lineman, and the 36th-best football prospect in the state of Texas
.
, where he started
35 games and teamed with Alex Barron to make one of the best offensive lines in college football.
and right tackle for Seattle. He is known as a good run
blocker
. He re-signed with the team on March 6, 2008 and then again on March 9, 2009.
.Willis's contract was terminated by the Dolphins on September 3.
. His wife gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - on February 23, 2008.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in the 4th round (105th overall pick) of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
He has also been a member of the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
.
Early years
Willis attended Angleton High SchoolAngleton High School
Angleton High School is part of the Angleton Independent School District located in Angleton, Texas, USA. Several previous school locations were destroyed by hurricanes. The high school was once located in what is now Central Elementary, as well as what is now the former Angleton Intermediate...
and was a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. In football, as a senior, he was an All-District honoree, a Class 5A All-State honoree, and after his senior season, he was named an All-Midland Regional honorable mention by Prep Star, and was ranked the Super Prep's 28th best offensive lineman, and the 36th-best football prospect in the state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
College career
Willis attended Florida State UniversityFlorida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, where he started
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
35 games and teamed with Alex Barron to make one of the best offensive lines in college football.
Seattle Seahawks
He started at both right guardGuard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
and right tackle for Seattle. He is known as a good run
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
blocker
Blocking (American football)
In American football, blocking is a legal move occurring when one player obstructs another player's path with his body. The purpose of blocking is to prevent defensive players tackling the ball carrier, or to protect the quarterback while attempting to pass or hand-off the ball...
. He re-signed with the team on March 6, 2008 and then again on March 9, 2009.
Miami Dolphins
On August 5, 2011, Willis signed with the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.Willis's contract was terminated by the Dolphins on September 3.
Family
Ray Willis is married to the former Kimberly Pettaway of Tarboro, North CarolinaTarboro, North Carolina
Tarboro is a city located in Edgecombe County, North Carolina. It is part of the Rocky Mount, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the town had a total population of 13,121. It is the county seat of Edgecombe County. Tarboro is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region...
. His wife gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - on February 23, 2008.