I think his progress has been positive, but you just do not know until you go up against live competition, Callahan said. The sky is the limit for him.. But after losing 25-ish practices over two months and four preseason games to a global pandemic, its not the ideal time for the Browns to be bringing along a rookie left tackle. Named to PFWA's 2020 NFL All-Rookie team. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports. Andrew Gribble sits down with offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. to discuss the first half of his rookie season. He also established an elective course in weight training, conditioning and nutrition. Watch the best blocking plays from Cleveland Browns rookie offensive tackle Jedrick Wills. You are giving ground. In 2023, Wills will earn a base salary of $3,296,761, while carrying a cap hit of $6,269,109 and a dead cap value of $2,972,348. Once you get too high, they can just steamroll you. The Cleveland Browns selected OL Jedrick Wills Jr. at pick No. However, he also took strides and took a step forward this season. There was no long lecture. There are countless football-specific drills and workout routines to help prepare young tackles for the challenges of facing edge rushers such as Shaq Barrett, Chandler Jones and T.J. Watt. Web2020 Donruss Optic Jedrick Wills RC Cleveland Browns #119 Rookie . Helped Chubb (1,067) and Kareem Hunt (841) become the only pair of teammates to each record 840-plus rushing yards in 2020, highlighted in a win against Houston on Nov. 15, when Chubb (126) and Hunt (104) became the first Browns to each record 100 yards rushing in the same game since 1966. It was like, Youre playing football no matter what. Did a little bit of basketball, but once the (football scholarship) offers came it was like, Its kind of real now, the dream is coming true. Just tried to put all my effort into that.. Shaw, a former Bengals linebacker, saw the hoops potential in Wills. Sponsored . which is not an easy transition for many linemen. New offensive lineman Jedrick Wills Jr. addresses the media following his selection as the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. You are moving your hands in concert with your feet. Draft Home. Callahan spoke with Wills briefly, patted him on the shoulder and one play later the 21-year-old was back. Wills sometimes stood alone on the sideline between reps. At one point later in practice, he took a knee alongside left guard Joel Bitonio, who as a rookie in 2014 benefited from playing between Joe Thomas and Alex Mack on the best Cleveland offensive line in recent memory. The broken foot Wills suffered convinced him it was time to focus on his studies and his first athletic love. I always was a basketball player, Wills told reporters prior to the University of Alabamas national championship game against Georgia in 2018. He scooped his fumble cleanly and kept on moving. Cleveland's offense carries great expectations into the 2021 NFL season, but Jim Trotter says the upgraded defense is making life hell for Baker Mayfield and Co. at Browns training camp. He helped Lafayette High School to the 6A state championship game in his senior and junior seasons. Your email address will not be published. (Courtesy of Doug Dieken), used to assemble an offseason basketball team to play in charity games. On paper, they should be in line for their seventh win of the season, but the game is not played on paper as they still have to go out and take care of business in D.C. The Browns are acknowledging that Wills has had some difficult days while trying to focus more on gradual growth and habits that will help Wills improve with more full-speed NFL experience. Justin Herbert overtakes Joe Burrow for the top spot in Daniel Jeremiah's ranking of the 25 best rookies through Week 9 of the 2020 season. ", 5. Wills was a top-rated offensive lineman in high school. Part of Alabama's offense that ranked No. Wills has missed his second straight practice with a back injury. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Wills, a native of basketball-mad Lexington, Ky., likewise showed promise on the hardwood before a hairline fracture in his foot forced him to make a business decision about his future. Jedrick Wills is young and inconsistent. Wills has not shown up on any practice injury report and has not missed a snap in any open practice session, so were left to assume this was a maintenance issue. Some prep football coaches, particularly at large schools, are hesitant to let their best players participate in a sport in which knee twists and ankle sprains are commonplace. Gil Brandt ranks 12 rookies primed to impact the postseason race. All rights reserved. Which newbies must deliver for their respective teams to succeed in 2020? You had to bend your knees and hips. As an offensive tackle, hes mentioned in the same breath with many of the great ones. Pro Football Focus breaks down the top rookie performances from Week 10 of the 2020 NFL season. BEREA, Ohio During a jog-through period in Sundays practice at FirstEnergy Stadium, the Browns first offense lined up at midfield for a simulated Hail Mary situation. McDaniels has spent his recent Sunday nights watching the ESPN 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the dynastic Bulls of the 1990s. All rights reserved. Check Daron Paynes first NFL interception. Julia Louis-Dreyfus said her fathers disapproval during her first season on Saturday Night Live still stings decades later. His father, Jedrick Wills Sr., is a girls basketball coach at Lafayette. Opened holes for Chubb who became first Browns RB to amass 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons (2019-20) since Jamal Lewis (2007-08). Wills has lots of work to do. At least, thats what Wills is according to McDaniels coached at Canton McKinley, Warren G. Harding and Massillon Jackson. Eric Shaw has spent 19 years coaching prep football in the shadow of a college basketball superpower. DOB 1999-05-17 ( 23.6) Height 6' 5". A buffalo that was ambushed by a crocodile in South Africa desperately backpedaled with the reptile clamped on to its nose. Mark Humphrey/Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. Its just like playing basketball. Julia Louis-Dreyfus said her fathers disapproval during her first season on Saturday Night Live still stings decades later. Pro Bowlers from Doug Dieken to Orlando Pace to Thomas have taken advantage of it during their long careers. Charlie Neibergall/Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. Standing on the sideline, Wills almost always held his water bottle in his left hand. All rights reserved. He was awesome, McDaniels said. 2 nationally in scoring (47.2 ppg), third in passing (342.2 ypg) and sixth in total offense (510.8 ypg). Sometimes, (young players) have the tendency to dwell because they want to do so well that it kind of feeds into that cycle of overthinking, paralysis by analysis and things of that nature, Callahan said. If you told me he had played left tackle in college, I wouldnt have questioned it. Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (10thoverall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. Projects Browns To Draft Zaven Collins In First Round, 5 Linebackers The Browns Should Consider Drafting In 2021, Cleveland Browns 7-Round 2021 Mock Draft (With Trades), 5 Interior DL The Browns Should Target In 2021 Draft, Browns Go Heavy Defense In 7-Round 2021 Mock Draft, Browns Projected To Go EDGE In NBC's Latest Mock Draft, Browns Currently At 12th, Could Move Into Top 10 In 2020 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns Hold No. Week in and week out as we move through the schedule and during the season, I just want to see constant improvement. The Browns used to assemble an offseason basketball team to play in charity games throughout the state. He made his first college start as a freshman and became just the second Alabama offensive lineman to start games as a true freshman since Andre Smith in 2006. The Browns have selected Jedrick Wills Jr. in the 2020 NFL Draft. The real evaluations are just around the corner. In a clip Jedrick Wills 2020 Donruss Optic RC #119 Rookie - Cleveland Browns . It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Which NFL newbies are in the best position to start strong in 2020? Market data provided by Factset. Free shipping . I think I have gauged his rate of improvement, Callahan said. Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. named Pepsi Rookie of the Week for Week 10 of the 2020 NFL Season. And this has Myles Garrett thinking big: "Go to the playoffs and make a run.". Not every offensive tackle is athletic enough to play basketball, but those who have done it recognize the similarities in guarding a basketball player driving to the hoop and pass blocking against a charging edge rusher. NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks list their top 25 rookies through the halfway point of the 2020 NFL season. Can Wills, a right tackle in college, make the switch to the left side? Can Justin Herbert be even better for the Chargers in 2021? Now, he is not going to be proficient at everything, but I want him to have good exposure and a good understanding of the things that are going to be facing him.. Now, he's looking to fulfill his potential and become one of the top tackles in the NFL, Nathan Zegura, Andrew Gribble and Anthony Poisal make their predictions for some of the hottest topics surrounding the Browns entering the 2021 season, The draft class appears to be one of the best the Browns have collected in recent memory, and each player is in line to make a considerable jump in Year 2, The Browns welcomed their 75th anniversary with a Browns Live that featured several special guests who all echoed the same goal for 2021, Cleveland attacked the position in the offseason, and it paid off in a big way, The Browns received significant contributions across their entire rookie class, and each player has a promising step to take in 2021, Regarded as one of the league's best, Cleveland's offensive line is confident it can improve with more chemistry, Cleveland's 1st- and 4th-round selections were honored by the Pro Football Writers of America, Check out photos of the Browns 2020 Draft Class. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. He is also the host of the "A to Z" podcast alongside Andre Knott. Assistant offensive-line coach Scott Peters twice went hands-on with Wills, stressing hand placement as Wills pushed through fellow rookie tackle Alex Taylor, who was holding a blocking pad. Jan 18, 2023, 08:38 AM EST. Jedrick knows how to do that. Information about your device and internet connection, like your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Yahoo websites and apps. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2022 Mock Drafts. There are no questions about his athleticism. It would just open up for me.. Throughout training camp, the lanky 6-foot-5 Dieken had to stay after practice for individual reps to learn his new position. He also won a national championship with Alabama in 2017. He did it in practice and in the games. The other thing that jumped out from two hours of observation is Wills long arms: His wingspan was officially measured at 83.5 inches. Wills spent two months rehabilitating the injured ankle. Jan 18, 2023, 08:38 AM EST. Dan Parr ranks the 25 rookies who are in the most favorable situations entering Year 1. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports. Zac Jackson is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Cleveland Browns. Born: May 17, 1999 in Lexington, KY. College: Alabama (College Stats) Weighted Career AV (100-95-): 21 (5287th overall since 1960) High School: Lafayette Subscribe to the Browns Nation newsletter here! 2022 NFL Enterprises LLC. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. He said earlier in the offseason that hed spent much of his pre-draft training time prepping to play left tackle. Browns' Jedrick Wills: Should be back Week 7. He worked out in the offseason in His father, Jedrick Wills Sr., is a girls basketball coach at Lafayette. Each guy had different moves so it was challenging.. Veteran backup tackle Kendall Lamm was summoned from the sideline, and Wills jogged with his head up over to offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Cleveland Browns linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) celebrates a sack during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Cleveland. The Browns have never wavered on their commitment to making Wills their immediate starter at left tackle, a position Wills never played until football activities started in August. He was First Team All-State as a junior and a senior while attending Lafayette High School in Lexington, Ky. Wills chose to attend Alabama over Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and Notre Dame. Here are five other things to know about Wills. Read here for other injury and news updates from around the league on Sunday. Before we would go and drink beer, my offensive line coach Ray Prochaska would line up all the defensive ends and do pass rushes against me, Dieken said. He was willing to share his players as long as coaches in winter and spring sports agreed to do the same. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports. It was a not a full-pads, full-contact practice either, which means it probably wasnt the ideal day for this exercise. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Vasha Hunt/Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. Wills also played basketball at Lafayette High School in Lexington, Kentucky, his hometown. The coach said few athletes have embraced his philosophy more than Wills. Though I sometimes caught myself watching the ball and still tried to gauge the overall flow of practice, I mostly watched Wills. He marveled at the agility of Sanduskys beefy 6-foot-7 center. He was gifted and talented and he belonged on the court.. As The Athletics NFL Draft guru Dane Brugler observed, both require quick feet, good lateral movement, solid body positioning and the ability to angle opponents away from the target. Marc Ross examines which first-round picks from the 2020 NFL Draft should have their fifth-year options picked up. And as a basketball player, he wasnt just some big, sloppy guy. (Watch the video below.) Last Saturday, I watched Wills for an entire practice. If you drop your hips and stay underneath the way you do when youre guarding someone youre a helluva lot stronger.. The Texans RB is considered a long shot to play Sunday against the Ravens because of an ankle sprain, Ian Rapoport reported. Shaw said the offensive tackles football acumen is a factor sometimes overlooked when watching him drive defenders to the ground. 54 (Vernon) and No. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. NFL.com's Chase Goodbread previews four things to watch for in the prime-time matchup. If the Cleveland Browns front office traded Jedrick Wills they would be left with a dead cap of $2,972,348. My philosophy was you tried to walk (the edge rusher) back to the quarterback. He could handle the ball, too.. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports). Dieken saw the charity events as a chance to hone his footwork and body positioning. 2020 NFL Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week for Week 10, becoming just the fourth offensive lineman to win the award since its inception in 2002 and first since 2013. In fact, the past three draft classes have produced first-round tackles with hoops backgrounds Mike McGlinchey (49ers in 2018), Andre Dillard (Eagles in 2019) and Wills and Mekhi Becton (Jets in 2020). Sep 22, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) celebrates after a touchdown by wide receiver Amari Cooper (not pictured) during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelersat FirstEnergy Stadium. So far, so good, according to Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan. Growing up in Wisconsin, Thomas was good enough to attract small-college scholarship offers to play hoops. $3.00 + $0.57 shipping . He had nearly gone from the womb to walking, his mother, Sivi, once told the Kentucky High School Athletic Assn., scurrying around the family home at only 5 months old. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Predict The Pick. Helped the Browns record four games with at least 200 rushing yards, their most in a season since 1978. Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills reacts to being selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 2020 NFL Draft. 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Paved the way for the Browns to finish 2020 third in the NFL in rush yards (2,374) and fifth in yards per carry (4.80 avg.). Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (71) attempts to block Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Cleveland. Check out his AFC North findings. At least, thats what Wills is according to Cleveland Browns General Manager Andrew Berry as he outlined in his press conference earlier this week. Moving in the other direction is Jedrick Wills, as teams are concerned about his ability to mentally process a complex Joe Burrow leads the field and an undrafted sensation cracks the top 10 in Daniel Jeremiah's ranking of the 25 best rookies through Week 4 of the 2020 season. The second injury report of the week has come out for the Cleveland Browns as they prepare for the Washington Commanders. 1. Each day, Callahan goes over the film and talks with Wills about the good, the bad and the in-between. When a guy is rushing from the outside, you have to open your hips. Jedrick Wills Jr. says Cleveland Browns have realistic shot at Super Bowl. Will Tua Tagovailoa push the Dolphins into the playoffs? $0.99 + $1.00 shipping . Youre playing defense, trying to stop your man from going either direction. So light on his feet for a big man. Wills dropped his shorts and Sheehan applied layers of new tape around Wills upper right thigh. Jan 9, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Fans react after Cleveland Browns running back Demetric Felton (25) gave fans a ball after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at FirstEnergy Stadium. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. NFL offensive and defensive lines are filled with former high school basketball players and wrestlers. As defensive ends such as Jack Gregory and Joe Turkey Jones unloaded on the rookie, Dieken put his hoops experience to good use. The Browns solidified their offensive line Thursday by selecting offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. What about the Browns' impressive newbies? It was future Hall of Famer Orlando Pace. Hes relentless.. As he has throughout camp, Wills took every rep at left tackle with the first offense. He was a very good basketball player, Shaw said. WebJedrick Wills Rookie 2020 Select Concourse PURPLE Prizm Die Cut #90 Browns RC . Click Manage settings for more information and to manage your choices. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). The Browns will look to switch Wills over to left tackle after filling their right tackle position with Jack Conklin in free agency. In 12 days, Wills will make his first NFL start. 10, Photos: Jedrick Wills Jr. through the years, Diversity and Opportunity Fellowship Program. The Cleveland Browns select Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills with No. All rights reserved. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Wills finished his collegiate career with 28 straight starts. I do think that the players learn more once they get into the games. Louis-Dreyfus While the two men, separated by 15 years in age, probably wont be testing each others post moves think of Joes poor knees they are bound by a love of basketball. In Pro Football Networks 2020 NFL Scouting Combine buzz article, PFN Insider Tony Pauline reported on Friday that teams have started moving Alabama offensive tackle Jedrick Wills from tackle to guard on their draft boards. Jedrick Wills gives away a car, pays a familys rent - al.com It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Jed has obviously lost a share and he has won a share of his reps, but that experience of getting out against quality and premier pass rushers is invaluable. I think I have made a lot of progress, especially the past few weeks. Originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (10th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. While the two men, separated by 15 years in age, probably wont be testing each others post moves think of Joes poor knees , A svelte Doug Dieken was a wide receiver and tight end at the University of Illinois before transitioning to offensive tackle with the Browns. He allowed just one quarterback sack and 3.5 quarterback hurries last season and was the biggest force in Alabama's offensive line, which ranked third nationally and allowed just .92 sacks per game. Subscribe to the Browns Nation newsletter here! The biggest thing is really just seeing different things every day from the guys on the other side of the ball, Wills said Sunday. Willis is durable. The Cleveland Browns have placed offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list. His mother, Sivi, was an excellent player at Eastern Kentucky University. Wills became a full-time starter before his sophomore season. In a clip posted by the wildlife platform Latest Sightings on Tuesday, the crocs attack on the buffalo at a dam scattered the thirsty herd. The Browns conducted a scoop-and-score drill during Saturdays practice, with coaches rolling footballs to simulate fumbles and every player picking up the ball and advancing it. They are really more in tune to what is going to occur and what they can expect. The Cleveland Browns announced Thursday it placed Jedrick Wills Jr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list. With the 2020 NFL regular season in the books, Daniel Jeremiah provides a final ranking of the top 25 rookies.
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