Lane’s Willis heads to Indy for rookie minicamp
[gtxvideo vid=”RIOhQfkV” playlist=”” pid=”OTSe9U1y” thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/RIOhQfkV.jpg” vtitle=”Lane Grad Signs”]
EAST JACKSON, Tenn. – Minutes before the “Fight of the Century” between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, Damein Willis learned he had won a battle of his own. The Lane college graduate is leaving Jackson behind for a new start in Indiana. “I was watching the Floyd Mayweather fight. I had got the call, and I ran outside,” said Willis. “It was like a dream come true once I heard his voice.” His agent told him the Indianapolis Colts wanted to sign him. “Everything seemed to fall into place at the right time,” said Willis. Just a week before, the Jonesboro, Georgia native graduated with a Physical Education degree from Lane. Willis must now fight to make the 53-man roster. “His instincts gotta kick in and if he wants to make the team, he has to give everything he got,” said Lane head football coach Derrick Burroughs. Willis says he’s committed to doing that. “Show them hard work does pay off. It’s not, just a waste of time being here. Show them you can go somewhere being from Lane,” said Willis. The 6’5″ offensive lineman says it’s not just his school he wants to make proud. “She always pushed me to have a dream. I would be in high school trying to get a job,” explained Willis about his mom. “She would say don’t worry about nothing. Just play football, go to school and worry about going to college.” Willis takes pride in making his mom smile, even if she calls him her baby. “I tell her that all the time. She always going to say. You still my baby. You still my baby,” smiled Willis. Lane grad Jacoby Jones is the only Dragon on an NFL roster. Willis is hoping to change that.
