Boston College Athletics
Willis Looks to Exceed Expectations in 2015
August 19, 2015 | Football
Written by Sebastian Lena
Chestnut Hill, Mass. -- Most players would feel content after finishing sixth in the ACC in all-purpose yardage.
However, Myles Willis isn't most players.
"I'm the biggest critic of myself," said the Eagles' junior running back. "Expectations always rise as you get more experienced. But no expectation is going to be higher than the ones I have for myself."
Playing in all 13 games last season, Willis led the team with 1,372 all-purpose yards, averaging 105.5 yards per game. That includes rushing for 459 yards and two touchdowns on 88 carries while returning 34 kickoffs for 839 yards and one score.
Although he may have set the bar high in 2014, the Conyers, Ga., native is adamant on hurdling it once again this season.
"I'm working on improving my vision," Willis said. "I feel like I'm a quick burst back, so once I get to the next level, I'm rarely--if ever--going to get caught. But if my eyes aren't in the right place, I'm not going to be able [to reach that level].
"I want to have the best vision in the ACC."
He doesn't need to look far to grab inspiration to accomplish that goal.
As a freshman, Willis paced Andre Williams as the then-senior rewrote the Boston College record books, rushing for a nation-high 2,177 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning himself an invite to New York City as a Heisman Trophy Finalist. A year later, quarterback Tyler Murphy stole the show with his legs, rushing for 1,184 yards, finishing second among quarterbacks in the country.
Having that kind of experience to draw from is invaluable.
"It all taught me what it takes," Willis said. "A lot of times, it's tough to know what it takes to succeed at the next level. But I've seen it firsthand two years in a row. It's no mystery to me on what's the secrets to success."
Willis will be able to share those secrets with what should be a very talented quartet in the Eagles' backfield.
Joining him will be fellow junior Tyler Rouse (214 YDs, 3 TDs) and sophomores Jon Hilliman (860 YDs, 13 TDs), Sherman Alston (352 YDs, 2 TDs) and Marcus Outlow (243 YDs). Together, along with Murphy, the ground game accounted for 3,311 yards on the ground, the most in Boston College program history.
It may be crowded, but there are no egos in this backfield.
"It's great, because we all bring something different to the table," said Willis. "I feel like I have the speed, Marcus has great hands, Jon is a bigger back and Tyler is versatile; he can do it all. We're all just committed on getting better and being the best that we can be."
And just because Murphy has departed The Heights for the NFL, don't make the mistake of underestimating just how good this group can be.
"Oh yeah, we're not trying to match anything or come in a close second," Willis said. "We want to beat everything we did last year and just keeping getting better. That's what we're working towards."
