Rebs' Stallings, Willis Named To Coaches All-SEC First Team

Dec. 6, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Ole Miss offensive lineman Tre' Stallings and linebacker Patrick Willis were named to the Coaches All-SEC first team as announced by the league office Tuesday.

For Willis, this is his second such honor in two days, as he also earned Associated Press All-SEC first team honors on Monday.

Willis, a 6-2, 230-pound junior from Bruceton, Tenn., finished the regular season as the nation's leader in solo tackles (9.00) and ranked No. 5 in the nation in total tackles (12.80). He also led the Southeastern Conference in tackles (12.8).

A finalist for the Cellular South Conerly Trophy (awarded to Mississippi's top player), Willis was also selected as a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation's Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year.

As for the 2005 season, Willis' defensive totals included 128 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (-42), three QB sacks (-28), two caused fumbles, one fumble recovery, three passes defensed, two QB pressures and one pass interception.

Willis played this season with a broken middle finger on his right hand, a sprained left knee, a right mid-foot sprain and a partial AC joint separation of his right shoulder.

Stallings, a 6-4, 317-pound senior from Magnolia, Miss., was selected as a permanent team captain for the 2005 season.

A preseason All-SEC honoree, Stallings finished his career with 48 consecutive starts, which was the third-longest streak in the SEC and tied for fifth-longest in the nation among players this season. With his start at MSU, Stallings tied the school record of 48, also held by OL Marcus Johnson (2001-04).

SEC Champion Georgia had a league-high five representatives on the first team. Of the 12 SEC schools, 11 had a member of the first-team All-SEC squad. Following Georgia, LSU was next with four first-team picks with Alabama, Auburn and Vanderbilt each with three selections.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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