Velma Jackson’s Willis ready for senior year

Tyshun Willis grew up around one of the most athletic families one could have. This includes his sister, Tyasia Willis, who plays professional basketball internationally, while his older brother Antavious plays football at Southern Miss. His younger brother, sophomore Trevon Willis, will also be the starting quarterback for Velma Jackson this fall. 

“My family definitely really pushed me growing up,” Willis said, “But getting to play with my little brother is cool, he’s going to be a great player too.”

Willis, who is committed to Mississippi State, enters his senior season for Velma Jackson and is looking to bring the Falcons their first state title in school history, avenging last season’s loss in the title game. 

“Going into my senior year, it’s the last ride and we have to play every game like it’s our last,” Willis said. “When we took that loss last year, it woke something up inside of us and it made us practice harder and grind harder everyday.”

A major thing that stands out about Willis, other than his 6’2 230 frame coming off the edge, is his personality and his leadership on the field. The temperature sat at 102 degrees at Velma Jackson’s practice on Tuesday afternoon, yet Willis was still going one-hundred percent, while also leading vocally on the field and encouraging his teammates. 

“I think his personality and who he is as a person is why he is so successful to be honest with you,” Velma Jackson Head Coach Quentin Euell said. “Even when you talk about a player of high magnitude talent-wise, the thing that still stands out to me the most is his character.”

Combined with his great character and personality, Willis is also a great and physically gifted football player and will be one of the best players in the state this season, regardless of class. 

“God did bless him with great natural ability, but the thing that separates him from a lot of other players is that he has a different mode about himself and a different work ethic,” Euell said. “He just works so hard and for us as a team, it sets the example.”

Willis, who is the 237th ranked player in the country and is a four-star prospect, has had plenty of interest from top college programs come his way, including Ole Miss, Missouri, and Baylor, but he decided to stay with the in-state Bulldogs. 

“It’s been a great relationship with the coaches there and everything,” Willis said. “When I’m up there it feels like home, I love how hard they practice and the way the coaches coach the players up. I’m locked in.”

Willis will be one of the most entertaining and dominating players to watch in the entire state this season and is a player that every football fan should get out and watch this season at some point. His and Velma Jackson’s quest to avenge their state title game lost last season will begin Friday night, as they will travel to Canton for a rivalry game to kick off the season. Kickoff is set for 7 PM.