Hurricanes defensive tackle Gerald Willis III named midseason All-American

Redshirt senior only Miami player to make list

Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle Gerald Willis III celebrates after recording a tackle for loss during Miami's 28-27 win against the Florida State Seminoles, Oct. 6, 2018 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami defensive tackle Gerald Willis III was named to The Associated Press midseason All-American team Tuesday.

The redshirt senior is a candidate for the Chuck Bednarik Award and ranks first in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 13 total tackles for loss.

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Willis is the only Miami player to make the list and the only player from a Florida team to earn first-team honors.

He is joined by Houston junior Ed Oliver as first-team defensive tackle. Notre Dame senior Jerry Tillery and Alabama sophomore Quinnen Williams make up the second team.

No. 1 Alabama led all schools with five players, highlighted by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Crimson Tide quarterback has 21 touchdown passes and no interceptions without having to attempt a pass in the fourth quarter because Alabama has been so thoroughly dominant.

Joining Tagovailoa on the first-team offense are wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and offensive linemen Jonah Williams and Ross Pierschbacher. Alabama safety Deionte Thompson was selected to the first-team defense.

No. 5 LSU placed three players on the first-team defense: linebacker Devin White, cornerback Greedy Williams and safety Grant Delpit. The Tigers defeated Miami 33-17 in the season opener.

Willis has started all seven games for the Hurricanes (5-2, 2-1 ACC) this season and tied a career high with eight tackles in last weekend's 16-13 loss at Virginia.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa, sophomore, Alabama.

Running backs: Jonathan Taylor, sophomore, Wisconsin; Darrell Henderson, junior, Memphis.

Tackles: Jonah Williams, junior, Alabama; Mitch Hyatt, senior, Clemson.

Guards: Beau Benzschawel, senior, Wisconsin; Shane Lemieux, junior, Oregon.

Center: Ross Pierschbacher, senior, Alabama.

Tight end: Jace Sternberger, junior, Texas A&M.

Receivers: Laviska Shenault Jr., sophomore, Colorado; Jerry Jeudy, sophomore, Alabama.

All-purpose player: Greg Dortch, sophomore, Wake Forest.

Kicker: Andre Szmyt, freshman, Syracuse.

Defense

Ends: Clelin Ferrell, junior, Clemson; Chase Winovich, senior, Michigan.

Tackles: Ed Oliver, junior, Houston; Gerald Willis III, senior, Miami.

Linebackers: Josh Allen, senior, Kentucky; Devin White, junior, LSU; Ben Burr-Kirven, senior, Washington.

Cornerbacks: Julian Love, junior, Notre Dame; Greedy Williams, sophomore, LSU.

Safeties: Deionte Thompson, junior, Alabama; Grant Delpit, sophomore, LSU.

Punter: Braden Mann, junior, Texas A&M.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

Quarterback: Dwayne Haskins, sophomore, Ohio State.

Running backs: Travis Etienne, sophomore, Clemson; Benny Snell, junior, Kentucky.

Tackles: David Edwards, junior, Wisconsin; Greg Little, junior, Mississippi.

Guards: Terronne Prescod, senior, North Carolina State; Ben Bredeson, junior, Michigan.

Center: Michael Jordan, junior, Ohio State.

Tight end: Noah Fant, junior, Iowa.

Receivers: Marquise Brown, junior, Oklahoma; John Ursua, junior, Hawaii.

All-purpose player: Rondale Moore, freshman, Purdue.

Kicker: Cole Tracy, senior, LSU.

Defense

Ends: Montez Sweat, junior, Mississippi State; Brian Burns, junior, Florida State.

Tackles: Jerry Tillery, senior, Notre Dame; Quinnen Williams, sophomore, Alabama.

Linebackers: Devin Bush, junior, Michigan; Porter Gustin, senior, Southern California; Curtis Bolton, senior, Oklahoma.

Cornerbacks: Deandre Baker, senior, Georgia; Adrian Frye, freshman, Texas Tech.

Safeties: Taylor Rapp, junior, Washington; Ugochukwu Amadi, senior, Oregon.

Punter: Ryan Stonehouse, sophomore, Colorado State.