Countdown to Kickoff: 28 Days (Darius Willis)

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

#28

There are now 28 days remaining until the Indiana Hoosiers kick-off the 2016 season in Miami against the Florida International Golden Panthers. Join us each day for each part of our 100-day countdown to the opener! Today we look at the bizarre career of former Hoosier running back Darius Willis.

Darius Willis (Former Hoosier)

-Height: 5’11”
-Weight: 223 pounds
-Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana
-Position: Running Back

Willis came to the Hoosiers as a highly touted running back from Franklin Central in 2008. He was an Under Armour All-American and a runner-up in the Indiana Mr. Football rankings. Willis was supposed to be the next great thing for the Hoosiers in the backfield.

After redshirting his freshman year in 2008, Willis burst onto the scene in 2009 playing in nine total games and six starts while running for 607 yards and six touchdowns. His most memorable moments on the field probably came at the Big House in the Hoosiers’ attempt to knock-off 23rd ranked Michigan. Willis ran for 152 yards on 16 carries and reached the end zone twice, the second being an 85-yard jaunt that put the Hoosiers ahead temporarily. He also had a 70-yard touchdown run on the first play against Northwestern that year.

Willis came into his sophomore campaign with high expectations in 2010, but he could only play in four games before suffering a season ending knee injury. He played in four games and rushed for 278 yards with four touchdowns. From there his Hoosier career went for a spin.

In 2011, it looked like Willis was going to become the go-to back for Kevin Wilson’s first year in Bloomington. Instead, Willis suffered another significant injury and fell out of favor after participating in a pro-wrestling event as the Hoosiers were suffering a 24-17 loss at North Texas. Willis left the program and more twists and turns occurred that finally led him to where he is now, in Switzerland.

Willis moved to Bern, Switzerland in the spring of 2015 to play for the Bern Grizzles and live out his dream to continue playing football. Now, Willis is a player/coach with the Zurich Renegades, where he is a running back and the defensive coordinator. 

Share any memories or recollections you have of Darius Willis as a player in the comments section (or on the message boards) and be sure to come back to Hoosier Huddle each day during our countdown!