Holden Willis
Holden Willis
Creates mismatches lined up all over the formation. Across four seasons and two programs, three head coaches: Jeff Scott, Rick Stockstill and Derek Mason. He has been named All-Conference USA two seasons running, most recently in 2024. The receipt on tape: 123 rec yds, 6 receptions against Florida International, Week 14, 2024.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- recognition record
- game log
How it ended
Four seasons at Middle Tennessee, 1,680 receiving yards — his college career is complete.
Career Arc
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2024)
All-Conference USA
Coaching Lineage · 2021–2024
2 coachesCoaching transition mid-career: Rick Stockstill → Derek Mason. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Derek Mason
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 3 · RecognizedR09 · All-Conference HM / 2nd team
All-Conference HM / 2nd team. Conference recognition has started.
Recognition
Production
Trophy Case · Confirmed honors
What the selectors said
ALL-CONFERENCE
All-Conf mention (2024)
All-Conference USA
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Middle Tennessee | 53 | 871 | 16.4 | 6 | -- |
| 2023 | Middle Tennessee | 46 | 697 | 15.2 | 5 | -- |
| 2022 | South Florida | 6 | 69 | 11.5 | 1 | -- |
| 2021 | South Florida | 2 | 43 | 21.5 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 107 | 1,680 | 15.7 | 12 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2024
W 32–25
vs Tennessee Tech
2 rec · 32 yds
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 7 at home.
How he plays
Play style
Lined up out wide as often as inline. Creates mismatches downfield.
CFB Index positional classification
DNA match
Player DNA
Move TE
Lined up out wide as often as inline. Creates mismatches downfield.
His 2024 production profile sits closest to Holden Willis’s 2023 season.
Matches Holden on
Differs from Holden on
Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Jyaire Shorter’s path through Memphis.
Kyle Pitts
Matches Jyaire on
Differs from Jyaire on
As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Malachi Fields's senior season at Virginia (2024).
Matches Malachi on
Differs from Malachi on
Player DNA
Players who play like Holden Willis
Development
Development Trajectory · receiving yards
2021–2024+1926%
Up 1926% from first season to most-recent.