Leonard Willis

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Leonard Willis
No. 80, 86, 89
Position:
kick returner
Personal information
Born: (1953-03-04) March 4, 1953 (age 71)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Career information
College:Ohio State
NFL draft:1976 / Round: 4 / Pick: 118
Career history
Player stats at PFR

Leonard Leroy Willis (born March 4, 1953) is a former

kick returner for the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills from 1976 to 1979.[2]

College career

Willis played for the

free safety for the Buckeyes.[6] In 1974, he did not catch a pass, but ran 11 times for 146 yards, a 13.3 yards per rush average.[3] In 1975, he caught 17 passes for 350 yards, a 20.6 yards per catch average, with 2 touchdowns.[3] His receiving yards and touchdowns were each good enough to rank 8th in the Big Ten Conference.[3] The Buckeyes won the Big Ten Conference championship in both his years with the team, but lost in the Rose Bowl
each season.

Professional career

Willis was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 118th pick in the 4th round of the

kick returner.[2] He returned 24 kickoffs for 552 yards, a 23.0 yard average.[2] He also returned 30 punts for 207 yards, a 6.9 yard average.[2] He also played in all 3 playoff games for the Vikings, as the Vikings won the NFC Championship, primarily returning punts and kickoffs.[2] In Super Bowl XI against the Oakland Raiders Willis returned 3 kickoffs for 57 yards (a 19.0 yard average) and 3 punts for 14 yards (a 4.7 yard average).[8]

In 1977 Willis played for both the New Orleans Saints and the Buffalo Bills, again primarily as a kick returner. In 1978, playing for Buffalo, he only played in 4 games and returned just 1 kickoff. But he also had his only 2 professional receptions that year, gaining 41 yards for a 20.5 yard average on those receptions. He finished his career with Buffalo in 1979, playing 7 games and returning 4 kickoffs for 92 yards that season.[2]

References

  1. Wilmington Morning Star
    . p. 3-D. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Leonard Willis". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  3. ^ a b c d "Lenny Willis". Sports Reference/College Football. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  4. Toledo Blade
    . p. 1. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  5. ^ a b Missildine, H. (October 12, 1974). "Bucks Potent in All Areas". The Spokesman-Review. p. 12. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  6. ^ Missildine, H. (October 3, 1974). "Twice Over Lightly". The Spokesman-Review. p. 9. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
  7. ISBN 9781602396777
    .
  8. ^ "Super Bowl XI". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2015-09-03.
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