Willis explains commitment

Linebacker Jonathan Willis popped for the Beavers this weekend even though he has never been to Corvallis. He explained his choice to BeaverBlitz.com on Sunday evening.

Willis, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound outside linebacker from Tulsa (Okla.) Booker T. Washington, was first profiled on BeaverBlitz.com just a few weeks ago. He has stayed in contact with Trent Bray, his recruiter from the Oregon State staff, but admits his knowledge of the school and the program is fairly limited.

Since Oregon State was his best option, and because Bray effectively sold the school and its potential impact on Willis' future, he decided to commit.

"I just liked the things we talked about and some of the things I saw from some of the videos I watched," Willis said. "Coach Bray seems like somebody I can get along with."

It may be that Willis' decision is as much about Bray as it is about Oregon State at this point, but he's anxious to learn more about the school in the near future. There's only so much he could have learned in the one month since the Beavers offered. And there's no substitute for a visit.

"Most likely if I can't [take an official visit] during the season then it will be after," he said, also noting that Oregon State was the only school he was seriously considering prior to his verbal pledge.

Willis added that he feels good about his academic standing and does not have any standardized testing standing between him and his enrollment date.

Oregon State has recruited Willis as an outside linebacker. He is Oregon State's fifteenth commitment overall and second linebacker commitment after Ricky Liuchan.