Coming into this season, I had Gavin Willis Gavin Willis 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Ballard | 2023 State KY on my radar but he blew away his expectations and shot up our rankings quickly. He had an outstanding senior year, finishing with 189 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. Willis showed a ton of versatility this season, showing the ability to play inside linebacker and off the edge as an outside linebacker. Against the run, he does a great job of reading his keys and coming downhill in a hurry. He bursts through the gap and meets the running back before the offensive line can react. Willis also has shown the ability to run all over the field to make tackles in the open field. As a pass rusher off the edge, Willis is able to use his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles. He also showed that he is reliable in pass coverage, finishing the year with an interception. Gavin is committed to Bucknell where I see him developing into a very productive player at the next level.

Ballard senior Gavin Willis Gavin Willis 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Ballard | 2023 State KY was one of the most productive linebackers in the state during the regular season and he continued to impress during the playoffs. Willis played a key role in Ballard’s deep playoff run, finishing with 57 tackles. two tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. Gavin has shown some versatility in his game, seeing snaps as an off-ball inside linebacker and off the edge as an outside linebacker. As an inside linebacker, he is very impressive against the run. Willis does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball, and then making tackles in the open field. Willis is also a dangerous pass rusher off the edge, using his speed and pass rush moves to blow by opposing offensive tackles. He has also shown reliability in pass coverage, showing the ability to read route combinations and put himself in a position to make a play on the ball. Gavin is committed to Bucknell where I see him developing into a very productive player at the next level.

Past Analysis:rnGavin racked up an impressive junior season making 83 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 5 sacks for the Ballard Bruins. What is noticeable about Gavin’s playstyle is his tackling mechanics. In other words, Gavin knows where to hit an opposing player’s weak spot which enables him to make even the most difficult tackles. Along with that, Gavin makes accurate predictions based on his great field vision to make a stop where the ball is being put. The young man is also a ball hawk and has many traits that correlate with a Nickelback which makes him an even greater threat when the ball is thrown near him. Gavin checks off all the skillsets any college football team would be looking for in an LB. I would be wanting to recruit this man any chance I can get if I were a local school in need of an OLB like Gavin.

End of Season: Gavin had a terrific 2022 football season, finishing 1st in total tackles statewide with 189, while also recording 12 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 2 interceptions in 14 games played. The Ballard senior added 106 more total tackles this season compared to his junior year and this is due to his stellar development. What makes Gavin so incredible is his explosive pass-rushing ability and strength to easily slip past the offensive line to get to the quarterback. When blitzing, Gavin gets off the snap so quickly, the quarterback does not even have time to see him charging toward him, as Gavin takes the easy sack. His zone reads are top-notch every time he steps onto the field, as he plays off the direction of the quarterback’s momentum and makes the defensive play where the ball is placed. There are not a lot of names I can think of that could have a decent chance at getting past Gavin on a 1v1 which goes to show how dominant this young man is. Gavin Willis Gavin Willis 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Ballard | 2023 State KY is currently committed to Bucknell, and I expect to see him shine there in the coming years.

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Gavin Willis Gavin Willis 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Ballard | 2023 State KY is another player that jumped onto my radar quickly this season. Willis finished his final regular season with 134 total tackles, ten tackles for loss, and five sacks. He is a versatile linebacker that has shown that he can play as both a true off-ball inside linebacker and off the edge at outside linebacker. Willis does a great job of reading his keys when defending the run and flowing the ball to put himself in a position to make a play. Once he makes his read, he shoots through his gap and explodes through contact to secure the tackle. As a pass rusher, Willis has quick pass rush moves which he uses to defeat blocks. He has also shown that he is reliable in pass coverage, finishing the regular season with an interception. Gavin is committed to Bucknell where I see him developing into a solid player once he gets there.