On Wednesday, Liberty quarterback Malik Willis took to the field once again for his second day of practice at the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. This week is huge for his draft status as he looks to make an impact on NFL Scouts.
Tuesday was the first day of practice ahead of Saturday’s game, and Liberty head coach Hugh Freeze was on hand in Mobile for the start of practice. On Wednesday, Freeze met with the local media in Lynchburg to talk, among other things, Malik Willis.
“Truthfully, I didn’t get to see much practice at all because I was in the suites with the general managers from suite to suite to suite,” Freeze said. “I wish I could have seen. I did see at first, and it was obvious to me, that his arm strength and velocity on the football, I thought, by far was the best there. Then, they sweeped me up to the suites. I met with four different teams in their suites with their general managers, coaches, and scouting personnel. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see a ton of practice because those meetings took most of the practice, but our other coaches were there. They thought he did really, really well. He thought he did well after practice when we got to visit.”
Freeze didn’t mention the specific teams he met with about with Willis, who is being projected as a first round draft pick. Reports have surfaced of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and New Orleans Saints meeting with the Liberty quarterback this week in Mobile. Willis said he has met with most of the NFL teams already this week.
“I think he just needs to be himself,” Freeze said of Malik. I do think, from talking to those teams, that this is a big week. In their words, probably more so than any recent memory they have. Typically they would feel like there are one or two guys that come into the senior bowl pretty well declared as this is the order. I think this year is pretty wide open for what is the order.”
Some have Willis as their top quarterback on the draft board entering this week, but many think it is very close between several of the top candidates. Alongside Willis in Mobile this week are Kenny Pickett, Desmond Ridder, Sam Howell, Carson Strong, and Bailey Zappe.
“I think everyone would agree Malik is the best athlete in the draft,” Freeze continued. “I think this Saturday will help start formulating, I don’t think it’s an end all be all situation, but I do think it starts formulating in people’s minds kinda not only who is the best athlete but who is separating themselves to be maybe the best quarterback in this draft.”
The hype for Malik is real, Freeze said, and that means something considering the type of talent he has coached over the years. He’s had several players get drafted in the first round including Evan Engram, Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell, and Robert Nkemdiche, but he says the hype for Willis was higher than he has ever seen for one of his players during his time in Mobile.
“There’s no question, I’ve been to that day many times, I’ve never had it quite like it was yesterday,” he said. “It’s an important decision obviously for those NFL teams. I can tell that their interest in Malik is absolute genuine and real by the time that I spent with them yesterday.”
Here’s a further look at Malik’s day on Wednesday:
A few media members want to talk to Malik Willis pic.twitter.com/O8znj0HVXs
— Lorin Cox (@CoxSports1) February 2, 2022
There were just a few reporters that wanted to meet with the Liberty quarterback during his media session Wednesday morning.
Malik Willis is one of the players #Lions GM Brad Holmes mentioned on Monday when he stated his admiration for how they handled adversity, specifically having to transfer schools to get his shot in Willis’ case. I asked him about Holmes’ comments this morning and here’s his reply pic.twitter.com/t8ovQoltco
— Kory Woods (@KoryEWoods) February 2, 2022
Malik Willis is gonna leave the Senior Bowl as the undisputed QB1
— #DraftTalk🏈 (@The_Real_FS) February 2, 2022
#Liberty QB Malik Willis has a message to those criticizing him for playing at “small school”: “Y’all do us dirty.” #SeniorBowl #NFLDraft #NFLDraft2022 pic.twitter.com/Hsytwdmu7I
— Jonathan Adams (@JonDAdams) February 2, 2022
That is certainly the hope for Willis, to be thought of by the end of the week as the top quarterback prospect in this class.
Weather has significantly calmed down and quarterbacks are taking advantage
Malik Willis showing off his ball velocity pic.twitter.com/xIUoXmOCSc
— John Crumpler (@TexansDoc) February 2, 2022
Liberty’s Malik Willis to Virginia Tech’s Tre Turner. #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/bi2UOTJgKV
— Damien Bartonek 🇺🇦 (@DABartonek) February 2, 2022
@LibertyFootball Star QB Malik Willis (@malikwillis) is lighting it up in the rain today. He’s looked very solid thus far and is only gaining confidence after each throw. #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/DOSJQA5kIT
— Chris Mallee (@mallee_chris_24) February 2, 2022
Malik Willis, pouring rain, dart. pic.twitter.com/EJPxFTZqRW
— Damien Bartonek 🇺🇦 (@DABartonek) February 2, 2022
Have yourself a day, @malikwillis !! @LibertyFootball is used to seeing this type of play as he finds red hot UCLA TE Greg Dulcich #TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/8F0dNAFBRR
— Chris Mallee (@mallee_chris_24) February 2, 2022
When Malik Willis takes off, he can get lot in a hurry: pic.twitter.com/VC01i0Wpvi
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) February 2, 2022
Everyone is raving about Malik Willis right now
He is clearly the best QB here
Everything is in sync even in the rain
Timing, mechanics, impressive. pic.twitter.com/KH02QOtYnB
— Louie DiBiase (@DiBiaseLOE) February 2, 2022
This is what you want to see from Malik Willis. Play action, fool the defense and hit the TE for the TD. pic.twitter.com/vCgsvCkYND
— 🌊🏖💙🤎 Uncle Iroh, Wholesome, Part-time Villain (@newbeachfan) February 2, 2022
Malik Willis has been the most impressive QB here through 2 practices.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 2, 2022
SOME NOTABLE ARTICLES ON MALIK OVER THE PAST 24 HOURS:
Sports Illustrated – 90 Prospects in 90 Days: Malik Willis
Fansided – Malik Willis will be first QB taken in NFL draft
Denver Fan – On day one, one quarterback stood above the rest