2022 NFL Draft: Malik Willis, a tale of two quarterbacks
By John Newman
Light and darkness
Moving away from the Virginia Tech game, let’s discuss the North Carolina State game from last season. If the Tech game served as an upset game foisting Willis into the spotlight (Liberty was considered 16.5 point underdogs heading into the game), then the NC State game serves as the biggest disappointment from last season.
Both teams were nationally ranked and the over/under heading into the game was 65 points. Though the Wolfpack were favorites heading into the game, the Liberty Flame looked poised for a win, averaging over 40 points a game heading into the matchup.
The game would end up being a defensive slugfest, with NC State winning 15-14, handing Liberty its first and only loss last year. Prior to the game, Willis had been flexing impressive stats, with 15 passing touchdowns and nine rushing scores in eight games. With Liberty averaging 490.9 yards of offense per game, NC State held Willis to just 216 yards of total offense. Willis would finish the game with a completion percentage of just 40.9, with three interceptions to two passing touchdowns.
So how did NC state keep Willis in check all game? Simple: By dropping eight men into coverage, the defense was able to keep most of the deep and intermediate levels of the field off-limits for the dynamic passer.
The NC State defense runs a 3-3-5 stack defense, which sacrifices a fourth pass-rusher for an extra man in the secondary. It allows the defense to be more fluid and quick on the draw, regardless of whether it’s a passing or running play. Against Liberty, the defense saw massive success, holding Willis to his worst day statistically all season, in almost every measured metric.
Despite knowing this going in, the Liberty offense made very few adjustments to assist Willis. He would finish the game with 32 passing attempts, the most he had made all season in a single game. Despite accounting for 216 of Liberty’s 279 yards of total offense (per Sports-Reference), it was not enough to outscore the Wolfpack’s 15 points.
The worst part about this game: Willis, as a passer looked really good on multiple passes, despite the embarrassing offensive numbers. On multiples plays, Willis threw with precision and placement, hitting receivers on the run and in tight coverage. On multiple throws, we got a glimpse of that cannon of an arm we had heard about all season.
Willis was almost able to rally the team to a comeback, ultimately losing due to a missed field goal. Just as the valid criticisms of the Virginia Tech game were overlooked due to a game-winning field goal, a missed field goal in the NC State game would provide the only blemish on an otherwise stellar 2020 season. This despite the fact that Willis looked like a more polished and technically proficient passer in the latter.
The upcoming 2021 season will be a key deciding factor for Willis and his draft stock in the 2022 NFL Draft. Liberty plays three teams next season that finished in the top 40 in total defense, including Army (first) and UAB (seventh), so Willis will have chances to play against quality defenses this autumn. But he’ll need to show NFL scouts he can rise above the holes on the Liberty roster (combined with inconsistent playcalling) to win close games. Dropping 58-points on Western Carolina in a rout isn’t going to cut it anymore.
Keep an eye out for the games listed above, as they will either make or break his NFL prospects. Liberty would end up winning four of their ten wins in 2021 by a touchdown or less. Considering the fact Willis finished the 2020 season with the most fumbles in the NCAA, it’s easy to see how Willis could just as easily lose as many games in 2021 by a touchdown if the Liberty football program doesn’t make any adjustments this offseason.
Despite what has been covered in this article, it is still reasonable to believe Willis has an unparalleled chance to make it into the top quarterback conversation of the 2022 NFL Draft. Willis has great straight-line speed, can evade tacklers with his quick feet and he will often throw passes so precise you wonder why more established FBS teams did not recruit him. On the Crimson Tide roster, Willis would be a shoo-in for the Heisman trophy and would be competing for a National Championship.
The skill of support players around him at Liberty should provide Willis some mitigating circumstances when it comes to the criticisms of this article. Not to mention the fact that this was his first season playing as the full-time starter, which no college quarterback can be adequately prepared to handle. If Willis can improve in the areas mentioned earlier, then it is fair to assume he will have a lot to offer an NFL franchise in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Let’s hope Willis and the Liberty coaching staff make the necessary adjustments in 2021 to see him earn that first-round draft spot and become the quarterback we all know he can be when he is at his best.