Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
2023 Football Roster
Roster
Willis, Holden
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Jersey Number 83
Holden Willis
- Position:
- WR
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-4 / 211
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Greenback, TN
- High School:
- Greenback
Bio
Honors
• 2023: First Team All-CUSA
• 2024: East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List, Senior Bowl Watch List, G5 National Team of the Week 9/16, MTSU Offensive Player of the Week 10/17, First Team All-CUSA, HERO Sports Group of Five Second Team All-American, College Football News Honorable Mention All-American, Sports Illustrated Honorable Mention All-American, First Team All-CUSA by Phil Steele
2024 (r-Senior)
• Played in 11 games and had nine starts
• Finished the season with a career-best 53 receptions for a team and career-high 871 yards to go with a team-best six touchdowns
• His 53 catches ranked eighth most among tight ends nationally
• Collected two receptions in 40 snaps against Tennessee Tech
• Led the team with seven catches for 94 yards at Ole Miss
• Added four catches for 73 yards against WKU
• Turned in three receptions for 60 yards and a TD against Duke
• Had five catches for 62 yards at Memphis, including a 25-yard grab
• Credited with five receptions for 79 yards and a TD at LA Tech
• Led team with eight receptions for 92 yards in win over KSU
• Hauled in six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown at JSU
• Missed the UTEP game with an injury
• Returned against Liberty and had five catches for 81 yards to lead the team
• Had three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown against NMSU
• Reeled in six passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns at FIU
2023 (r-Junior)
• Played in 11 games and earned 10 starts
• Ended the season with 46 receptions for 697 yards and five touchdowns (all career season best marks)
• Averaged 57 snaps played per game
• Had nine receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown against Colorado State to earn the team’s Offensive Player of the Game award
• Registered six catches for 70 yards at WKU
• Turned in four receptions for 97 yards against Jax State
• Hauled in four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against LA Tech
• Registered three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in win over FIU
• Led team with six receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns in win over UTEP
2022 (r-Sophomore at USF)
• Played in nine games
• Finished with six receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown
2021 (r-Freshman at USF)
• Saw action in ten games on the year
• Totaled two receptions for 43 yards against Cincinnati (11/12)
2020 (Freshman at USF)
• Saw action in two games on the year, playing vs. Tulsa and at Memphis
High School
• Coached by Greg Ryan at Greenback School
• Helped his team go 13-3 this past season and reach the Class 1A state championship game
• As a senior, he set a state record with 28 touchdown receptions while totaling 73 catches for 1,704 yards, which ranked him 13th nationally in the receiving yards category
• Posted more than one touchdown reception in 10 of his 15 games
• Named to the 2019 MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Football Team, the Class 1A Tennessee Titans Player of the Year and a member of the All-MidState Team by the Nashville Tennessean
• Finished his prep career with 158 receptions for 3,273 yards and 44 touchdowns
• Also played free safety and punter during his prep career and completed both of his passes for 79 yards and a touchdown as a senior
• On the defensive side of the ball, totaled 107 tackles as a sophomore and finished his prep career with 207 stops
• Ranked No. 55 on 247Sports’ 2020 top recruits in Tennessee list
• On special teams, averaged 40.4 yards per punt as a senior with seven punts inside the 20
Personal
• Full name: Holden Garrett Willis
• Parents: James and Cheri Willis
• Born: 6/20/02
• Major: Integrated Studies
• 2023: First Team All-CUSA
• 2024: East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 Watch List, Senior Bowl Watch List, G5 National Team of the Week 9/16, MTSU Offensive Player of the Week 10/17, First Team All-CUSA, HERO Sports Group of Five Second Team All-American, College Football News Honorable Mention All-American, Sports Illustrated Honorable Mention All-American, First Team All-CUSA by Phil Steele
2024 (r-Senior)
• Played in 11 games and had nine starts
• Finished the season with a career-best 53 receptions for a team and career-high 871 yards to go with a team-best six touchdowns
• His 53 catches ranked eighth most among tight ends nationally
• Collected two receptions in 40 snaps against Tennessee Tech
• Led the team with seven catches for 94 yards at Ole Miss
• Added four catches for 73 yards against WKU
• Turned in three receptions for 60 yards and a TD against Duke
• Had five catches for 62 yards at Memphis, including a 25-yard grab
• Credited with five receptions for 79 yards and a TD at LA Tech
• Led team with eight receptions for 92 yards in win over KSU
• Hauled in six passes for 109 yards and a touchdown at JSU
• Missed the UTEP game with an injury
• Returned against Liberty and had five catches for 81 yards to lead the team
• Had three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown against NMSU
• Reeled in six passes for 123 yards and two touchdowns at FIU
2023 (r-Junior)
• Played in 11 games and earned 10 starts
• Ended the season with 46 receptions for 697 yards and five touchdowns (all career season best marks)
• Averaged 57 snaps played per game
• Had nine receptions for 118 yards and a touchdown against Colorado State to earn the team’s Offensive Player of the Game award
• Registered six catches for 70 yards at WKU
• Turned in four receptions for 97 yards against Jax State
• Hauled in four catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against LA Tech
• Registered three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in win over FIU
• Led team with six receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns in win over UTEP
2022 (r-Sophomore at USF)
• Played in nine games
• Finished with six receptions for 69 yards and a touchdown
2021 (r-Freshman at USF)
• Saw action in ten games on the year
• Totaled two receptions for 43 yards against Cincinnati (11/12)
2020 (Freshman at USF)
• Saw action in two games on the year, playing vs. Tulsa and at Memphis
High School
• Coached by Greg Ryan at Greenback School
• Helped his team go 13-3 this past season and reach the Class 1A state championship game
• As a senior, he set a state record with 28 touchdown receptions while totaling 73 catches for 1,704 yards, which ranked him 13th nationally in the receiving yards category
• Posted more than one touchdown reception in 10 of his 15 games
• Named to the 2019 MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Football Team, the Class 1A Tennessee Titans Player of the Year and a member of the All-MidState Team by the Nashville Tennessean
• Finished his prep career with 158 receptions for 3,273 yards and 44 touchdowns
• Also played free safety and punter during his prep career and completed both of his passes for 79 yards and a touchdown as a senior
• On the defensive side of the ball, totaled 107 tackles as a sophomore and finished his prep career with 207 stops
• Ranked No. 55 on 247Sports’ 2020 top recruits in Tennessee list
• On special teams, averaged 40.4 yards per punt as a senior with seven punts inside the 20
Personal
• Full name: Holden Garrett Willis
• Parents: James and Cheri Willis
• Born: 6/20/02
• Major: Integrated Studies
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