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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Linebacker Patrick Willis Has Surgery, Honored Again
12/9/2005 | Football
Dec. 9, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis, who played through various injuries during the 2005 season, had a busy Friday as he underwent surgery to repair one injury, picked up his second Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year accolade and made the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-America second team.
Willis, who battled through his junior season with a broken middle finger on his right hand, a sprained left knee, a right mid-foot injury and a partial AC joint separation of his right shoulder, underwent successful surgery to his right foot Friday afternoon. The surgery, performed by Dr. Tom Tarquinio of the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, repaired a fracture in his right mid-foot.
"Patrick will begin his rehabilitation process immediately and will be out until he has recovered," Head Athletic Trainer Tim Mullins said.
The latest defensive honor came from Collegefootballnews.com, which selected Willis to its All-SEC team, while naming him as the 2005 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, the top linebacker in the conference, and the league's No. 2 player (behind Auburn's Kenny Irons) regardless of position.
On Thursday, Willis was selected SEC Defensive Player of the Year by Scout.com, and earlier in the week was named second team All-America by SI.com and first team All-SEC by The Associated Press and the SEC Coaches. The Walter Camp All-America team is selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the 119 Division 1-A football schools.
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 football 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 statistics for Coach Ed Orgeron's Rebels 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.