Name Willis Crockett Games played: 13 Weight 106 kg | College: Georgia Tech Height 1.91 m | |
 | ||
Date of birth: (1966-08-25) August 25, 1966 (age 49) NFL draft: 1989 / Round: 5 / Pick: 119 Education Georgia Institute of Technology | ||
Willis Robert Crockett (born August 25, 1966) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Georgia Tech University and was selected in the fifth round of the 1989 NFL Draft.
Contents
Early years
Crockett attended Coffee High School, where he played as a defensive back and wide receiver. He also practiced baseball and basketball.
He accepted a football scholarship from Georgia Tech University. He was named a starter at safety, registering 47 tackles 2 interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and earned freshman All-American honors. The next year he was converted into an outside linebacker and earned a starting position.
In 1987, he required arthroscopic surgery before the season, to fix a knee injury that limited him from the previous year. He still was able to start and lead the team in tackles for loss with 6.
In 1988, he was a part of a defense that ranked 14th in the nation with 384.2 total yards allowed per game and seventh in passing with 138.9 yards allowed. He posted 6 sacks (second on the team), 14 quarterback pressures (led the team), 4 tackles for loss (second on the team) and 3 fumble recoveries (tied for the team lead). He also received All-ACC and honorable-mention All-American honors.
Professional career
Crockett was selected in the fifth round (119th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. As a rookie, he tore his left anterior cruciate ligament during training camp and was placed on the injured reserve list.
In 1990, he was an early training camp surprise, but was slowed by a sprained ankle and waived injured on September 3. He was re-signed on September 13, to be a backup middle linebacker and also play on special teams. He appeared in 13 games, registering 9 tackles on defense, including 4 in his first regular season game, on September 16 against the New York Giants.