Khari Willis Selected by Colts in Fourth Round

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State safety Khari Willis was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round (No. 109 overall) of the 2019 National Football League Draft on Saturday, April 27.

Willis is the ninth Spartan defensive back selected in the NFL Draft under Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio and the second in 2019 (CB Jeremy Ware, seventh round by Raiders in 2010; CB Chris L. Rucker, sixth round by Colts in 2011; S Trenton Robinson, sixth round by Redskins in 2012; CB Darqueze Dennard, first round by Bengals in 2014; CB Trae Waynes, first round by Vikings in 2015; CB/WR Tony Lippett, fifth round by Dolphins in 2015; S Montae Nicholson, fourth round by Redskins in 2017; CB Justin Layne, third round by Steelers in 2019).

"Khari really did it all for us," said Dantonio. "He started games for us all four years and played a lot on special teams. He's not only tough and competitive, but has a lot of football intelligence and has proven himself as a great leader. He was a point guard in high school and is extremely quick. He's also an excellent tackler with good ball skills. Khari is everything you want as a person and as a leader on your football team."

A native of Jackson, Michigan, Willis 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.

With the 1️⃣0️⃣9️⃣th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.... The Indianapolis Colt select Khari Willis.#SpartansInTheNFL #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/pbG4qWRXmH
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 27, 2019

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.

This is a must watch for @Colts fans - meet your newest safety, Khari Willis... https://t.co/67eOcZPOj6
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 27, 2019

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 was the 15th Spartan under Dantonio to participate in the Senior Bowl.

Michigan State is one of just five schools to have had at least one player chosen every year since the inception of the common NFL Draft in 1967. In addition, at least one Spartan has been selected in the NFL Draft since 1941, the third-longest streak in the FBS (79 straight).

"Let's go make this thing happen!" -Khari Willis#ColtsDraft | #ColtsForged pic.twitter.com/tp7ea3k3WZ
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) April 27, 2019

Khari Willis Teleconference Transcript (April 27, 2019)

It looks like you have a strong locker room presence. How important is it to you to be a leader?
"I think that's very important. That's something I pride my hat on being a leader in the secondary. Trying to make everybody around me better is something that my dad instilled in me since I was playing point guard playing basketball at a young age. I think those kind of translated over as I developed into a defensive player, especially trying to be one of the top defenses in the country and now the top defense in the league. I am very excited to go and try to be a leader here in Indianapolis."

You were a running back in high school, right?
"Yes sir."

What was that transition like and how did they decide to do that?
"I played a little bit outside linebacker early on in high school and some of that film was on my running back highlight tape and it struck a few coaches across the county as me playing as a defensive player. Coach D (Mark Dantonio) was one of those guys. I knew coming in I was playing safety so I kind of made a transition in the offseason before I got there to Michigan State and then once I got there it was just about learning the defense. I was able to play early and have some success there. Coach D and the coaching staff always saw me as a defensive player."

Were there other schools that tried to recruit you as a running back?
"Yeah, all my other offers, every other school that recruited me, recruited me at running back except for Michigan State and Northwestern. Northwestern didn't offer, I committed soon to Michigan State."

So why did you choose to make the switch then?
"I think it was just because – honestly I fell in love with Michigan State and the way they sold the position to me. Me being able to naturally attack the ball, I could do that but I could also make plays on the ball as well. I felt like I could play early there and I felt like everything kind of worked out as I journeyed there."

Is there a certain mentality you need to play on defense? Did you find out that you had that?
"Definitely, I think I ran with that mentality if you watch my film from high school. I ran with a defensive mentality, I feel like. I feel like what we like to call the Spartan Dog mentality is something I adapted as a defensive player as well. I think that's just that underdog, not taking nothing from nobody, not give nobody nothing type of mentality – that's kind of where I grew up at and that's where I come from. That's kind of what I try to translate on the football field as well."

I am assuming you feel really confident with how your style of play will fit in with the scheme here.
"Sure. I definitely think what they'll ask me to do will be things to my strength. I love the defense, love the way they play, especially towards the end of the year as they really started getting the ball off people and playing hard and stuff like that. It's something that I am looking forward to and I know they got great guys in the secondary I can learn from."

What coverage did you primarily play at Michigan State?
"At Michigan State, we primarily played cover four, a lot of man-to-man and a little bit of three deep – three underneath, three deep zones."

For people that haven't seen you play, how would you describe your style as a safety?
"I think I am a sure-tackling safety that likes to play around the line of scrimmage, but can step out on the deep parts of the field and make plays. I feel like you are going to get somebody that's going to lead, be able to go down and guard people, press up on guys, as well as get guys, meet the backs one-on-one in the hole. I think I am versatile. I think I am well-rounded at the safety position. It's just a matter of when I am going to take off when I learn the system. I think you are getting a leader as well."

How much did you meet with the Colts during the draft process?
"I met with them – actually they were talking to my agent a lot and they were asking for a lot of medical things. So we kept an eye on that. I felt we talked throughout the process. I think they were at my pro day, we talked at the Senior Bowl, we talked at the combine and we have just been talking and getting to know each other. I am glad it turned out this way. Like I said, got a lot of family history with the Colts with my cousin playing there for so long."

Who is your cousin?
"My cousin is Billy Brooks the wide receiver."

Do you stay in contact with him much?
"Yeah. He has been talking to me, kind of mentoring me throughout this whole entire process. Just being with me, staying with me with everything. I know he is going to be excited. I am probably going to call him here shortly. He's still lives down in Indy, so I am sure that we will be in contact soon."

How much did he play a role in your development as a football player growing up?
"He played a big role. He always kind of talked to my dad about things."

The Colts traded up 20 spots to get you. What does that say to you?
"Yeah, it indicated that they wanted me and they wanted me early and they didn't want to take the chance of not getting me. That definitely shows on their part they have interest to trade up 20 spots to get me. I think that's a tremendous blessing and speaks to how they think of me. I think we think the same about each other. I think it's going to be a great career, a great relationship."

Takeaways are a huge emphasis of this defense. It seemed like you had your hands on the ball a lot. Is that something you consider a strength?
"Yeah, definitely. Definitely making plays on the ball when it's thrown my way or going to make a play when needed to be. I think in the big moments that's when those plays happen – third, fourth down, fourth quarter stuff like that. I think that's definitely one of my strengths."

How do you feel the Colts' scheme fits you with their use of safeties in dime packages? Is that an even bigger opportunity to get on the field early?
"Yeah, I think it fits me and suits me well. Just based on what they like to do. Based on what they like to do playing in the dime packages and stuff like that. I think that will help me because at Michigan State I played nickel, I played in the box, I blitzed a lot off the edge, up the middle and did a lot of things like that. I think they saw that as well, saw my versatility and thought they could play me at one of those three spots."

Players Mentioned

Justin Layne

Khari Willis

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