Michigan State University Athletics
Photo by: Matthew Mitchell Photography
Khari Willis Ready to Compete in Senior Bowl
1/25/2019 3:15:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State safety Khari Willis will represent the North team in the Reese's Senior Bowl on Saturday, Jan. 26 in Mobile, Alabama. The 70th annual Senior Bowl will be televised live on NFL Network, with kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. ET from Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden leads the North team.
"This is a dream come true," Willis said earlier in the week at Senior Bowl media day. "A lot of players wish they could play in this game. To be selected was an honor. I wanted to come out here and show that I'm not scared to compete with the best, I'm not scared to come in here and learn a defense that I never played before, learn it in one week, and go out and play ball. I wanted to compete with who they say is the best in order to get where I want to go, so this is another stop for me and I want to take full advantage of it."
Willis has been preparing all week in Mobile for Saturday's game. When asked what he wanted to show the scouts and NFL coaches this week, Willis said it was a multitude of things.
"I need to display them all – tackling, hitting at the right leverage, proper footwork, proper shoulder, and obviously covering, it's no secret that you have to cover to play in this league," he said. "I feel like my tape speaks to that. I feel like it's definitely a statement I can make this week as well."
The native of Jackson, Michigan, was a four-year letterwinner (2015-18) for the Spartans who played in 46 career games, including 30 starting assignments at safety. He ended his career with 26 straight starts at safety in 2017 and 2018 and was voted a team captain as a senior. Willis recorded 196 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, along with four interceptions and 16 pass break-ups in his career.
Willis had a career year in 2018 – both on and off the field. A second-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and third-team pick by the media and Athlon Sports, he recorded a career-high 84 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions for the Spartans as a senior, including a career-high 15 stops against Ohio State. He ranked tied for seventh in the Big Ten with his 10 pass break-ups.
Willis was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Spartans with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in MSU's 21-17 win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13. He also forced a fumble on PSU quarterback Trace McSorley in the first quarter as MSU held Penn State to then-season lows in points (17) and first downs (14).
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Willis graduated with a bachelor's degree in December 2018 as an interdisciplinary studies in social science major, with an emphasis on community governance & advocacy. He was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete. The award is also widely known as the "Academic Heisman."
On Oct. 24, Willis was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Former Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins won the award in 2011.
Willis took the national stage last summer, serving as the keynote player speaker at the 2018 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon in Chicago, and delivered an inspirational speech calling on his fellow Big Ten players to make a difference in their communities. He received a standing ovation and video of his speech went viral across social media (158,000 views on Twitter; 98,000 views on Facebook; nearly 10,000 on YouTube). He was selected a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented annually to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement, and was MSU's nominee for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team.
Willis the 15th Spartan under Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio to participate in the Senior Bowl.
SPARTANS IN THE SENIOR BOWL UNDER MARK DANTONIO (15)
C Jack Allen, 2016
WR Aaron Burbridge, 2016
QB Kirk Cousins, 2012
TE Kellen Davis, 2008
S Kurtis Drummond, 2015*
WR Bennie Fowler, 2014
LB Greg Jones, 2011
RB Jeremy Langford, 2015*
S Isaiah Lewis, 2014
TE Brian Linthicum, 2012
WR/CB Tony Lippett, 2015
S Trenton Robinson, 2012
K Brett Swenson, 2010
DE Lawrence Thomas, 2016
S Khari Willis, 2019
*Participated in practice, but did not compete in game due to injury
"This is a dream come true," Willis said earlier in the week at Senior Bowl media day. "A lot of players wish they could play in this game. To be selected was an honor. I wanted to come out here and show that I'm not scared to compete with the best, I'm not scared to come in here and learn a defense that I never played before, learn it in one week, and go out and play ball. I wanted to compete with who they say is the best in order to get where I want to go, so this is another stop for me and I want to take full advantage of it."
B1G @seniorbowl Khari Willis. Looked like a natural at safety in both man and zone. Thought he had a really good day yesterday. @MSU_Football
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) January 23, 2019
Willis has been preparing all week in Mobile for Saturday's game. When asked what he wanted to show the scouts and NFL coaches this week, Willis said it was a multitude of things.
"I need to display them all – tackling, hitting at the right leverage, proper footwork, proper shoulder, and obviously covering, it's no secret that you have to cover to play in this league," he said. "I feel like my tape speaks to that. I feel like it's definitely a statement I can make this week as well."
12 @seniorbowl B1G participants video/reports. A lot of positive feedback from coaches for Khari Willis during practice. @MSU_Football pic.twitter.com/dc4z4HaZyq
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) January 23, 2019
The native of Jackson, Michigan, was a four-year letterwinner (2015-18) for the Spartans who played in 46 career games, including 30 starting assignments at safety. He ended his career with 26 straight starts at safety in 2017 and 2018 and was voted a team captain as a senior. Willis recorded 196 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, along with four interceptions and 16 pass break-ups in his career.
Willis had a career year in 2018 – both on and off the field. A second-team All-Big Ten selection by Pro Football Focus and third-team pick by the media and Athlon Sports, he recorded a career-high 84 tackles, 10 pass break-ups and two interceptions for the Spartans as a senior, including a career-high 15 stops against Ohio State. He ranked tied for seventh in the Big Ten with his 10 pass break-ups.
Willis was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after leading the Spartans with nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in MSU's 21-17 win at No. 8 Penn State on Oct. 13. He also forced a fumble on PSU quarterback Trace McSorley in the first quarter as MSU held Penn State to then-season lows in points (17) and first downs (14).
A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Willis graduated with a bachelor's degree in December 2018 as an interdisciplinary studies in social science major, with an emphasis on community governance & advocacy. He was named a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded annually by the National Football Foundation to the nation's top scholar-athlete. The award is also widely known as the "Academic Heisman."
On Oct. 24, Willis was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I FBS senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. Former Spartan quarterback Kirk Cousins won the award in 2011.
Willis took the national stage last summer, serving as the keynote player speaker at the 2018 Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon in Chicago, and delivered an inspirational speech calling on his fellow Big Ten players to make a difference in their communities. He received a standing ovation and video of his speech went viral across social media (158,000 views on Twitter; 98,000 views on Facebook; nearly 10,000 on YouTube). He was selected a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy, presented annually to the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement, and was MSU's nominee for the Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team.
Willis the 15th Spartan under Spartan head coach Mark Dantonio to participate in the Senior Bowl.
SPARTANS IN THE SENIOR BOWL UNDER MARK DANTONIO (15)
C Jack Allen, 2016
WR Aaron Burbridge, 2016
QB Kirk Cousins, 2012
TE Kellen Davis, 2008
S Kurtis Drummond, 2015*
WR Bennie Fowler, 2014
LB Greg Jones, 2011
RB Jeremy Langford, 2015*
S Isaiah Lewis, 2014
TE Brian Linthicum, 2012
WR/CB Tony Lippett, 2015
S Trenton Robinson, 2012
K Brett Swenson, 2010
DE Lawrence Thomas, 2016
S Khari Willis, 2019
*Participated in practice, but did not compete in game due to injury
Players Mentioned
S
/ FootballPat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Mar. 31, 2026
Tuesday, March 31
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Mar. 17, 2026
Tuesday, March 17
Pat Fitzgerald | Signing Day Press Conference | Feb. 4 2026
Wednesday, February 04
A New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03