Ray Willis

{{Short description|American football player (born 1982)}}

{{about||the basketball player|Ray Willis (basketball)|other people|Raymond Willis (disambiguation)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ray Willis

| image = Ray Willis.jpg

| caption = Willis with the Dolphins in 2011.

| current_team =

| number = 64, 74

| position = Offensive tackle

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|8|13}}

| birth_place = Angleton, Texas, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 6

| weight_lbs = 315

| high_school = Angleton (TX)

| college = Florida State

| draftyear = 2005

| draftround = 4

| draftpick = 105

| pastteams =

| status =

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Games played

| statvalue1 = 44

| statlabel2 = Games started

| statvalue2 = 26

| pfr = WillRa22

}}

Ray Willis (born August 13, 1982) is a former American football offensive tackle who last played for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round (105th overall pick) of the 2005 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2005 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/draft.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He played college football for the Florida State University Seminoles.

He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Early life

Willis attended Angleton High School and was a letterman in football. In football, as a senior, he was an All-District honoree, a Class 5A All-State honoree, and after his senior season, he was named an All-Midland Regional honorable mention by Prep Star, and was ranked the Super Prep's 28th best offensive lineman, and the 36th-best football prospect in the state of Texas.

College career

Willis attended Florida State University,{{Cite web |date=January 10, 2003 |title=FSU Football Surgery Update on Brodrick Bunkley, Kendyll Pope and Ray Willis |url=https://seminoles.com/news/2003/1/10/fsu-football-surgery-update-on-brodrick-bunkley-kendyll-pope-and-ray-willis |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Seminoles.com}} where he started 35 games and teamed with Alex Barron to make one of the best offensive lines in college football.

Professional career

=Seattle Seahawks=

He started at both right guard and right tackle for Seattle. He is known as a good run blocker. He re-signed with the team on March 6, 2008, and then again on March 9, 2009.[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090310/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_seahawks_signings;_ylt=AsHCzWjgaVBPALNUokNgaYkLMxIF Seahawks Resign OL Willis] Yahoo Sports, March 9, 2009

=Miami Dolphins=

On August 5, 2011, Willis signed with the Miami Dolphins. Willis's contract was terminated by the Dolphins on September 3.http://www.miamidolphins.com/news/dolphins-trim-roster-53-players{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

=New Orleans Saints=

Willis signed with the New Orleans Saints on November 2, 2011.

=New York Jets=

Willis was signed by the New York Jets on May 29, 2012.{{cite news|title=Jets to sign free-agent tackles Stephon Heyer, Ray Willis|url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/05/jets_to_sign_free-agent_tackle.html|work=The Star-Ledger|author=Vrentas, Jenny|date=May 29, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120530141213/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/05/jets_to_sign_free-agent_tackle.html|archivedate=May 30, 2012|accessdate=May 29, 2012|url-status=dead}} He was waived by the team on June 28.{{cite news|title=Jets waive G.J. Kinne and Ray Willis|url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/06/jets_waive_gj_kinne_and_ray_wi.html|work=The Star-Ledger|author=Vrentas, Jenny|date=June 28, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704214253/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2012/06/jets_waive_gj_kinne_and_ray_wi.html|archivedate=July 4, 2012|accessdate=June 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}

=Kansas City Chiefs=

Willis was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs on July 31, 2012.{{cite web | last=Thorman | first=Joel | title=KC Chiefs Sign Free Agent OT Ray Willis | website=Arrowhead Pride|publisher=SB Nation | date=2012-07-31 | url=https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2012/7/31/3207340/kc-chiefs-free-agents-ray-willis | access-date=2025-07-01}}

Personal life

Ray Willis is married to the former Kimberly Pettaway of Tarboro, North Carolina. His wife gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - on February 23, 2008.

References

{{reflist}}