Drew Willy Explained

Drew Willy
Import:Yes
Position:Quarterback
Number:5, 2, 16
College:Buffalo
High School:Randolph (NJ)
Birth Date:November 13, 1986
Birth Place:Randolph, New Jersey, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:214
Hand:right
Career Highlights:
  • Grey Cup champion (2013)
  • UFL champion (2010)
  • MAC champion (2008)
  • CFL Top Performers of the Week (Weeks 1, 6 2014, Weeks 1, 6 2015)
Statlabel1:Pass attempts
Statvalue1:1,243
Statlabel2:Pass completions
Statvalue2:833
Statlabel3:TD–INT
Statvalue3:43–32
Statlabel4:Passing yards
Statvalue4:9,652
Statlabel5:Passer rating
Statvalue5:91.1
Cfl:drew-willy/158723/
Playing Team1:Baltimore Ravens
Playing Team2:Indianapolis Colts
Playing Team4:New York Jets
Playing Team5:San Diego Chargers
Playing Years6:
Playing Years7:
Playing Years9:
Career Footnotes:*Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Drew Willy (born November 13, 1986) is an American former professional Canadian football quarterback. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Buffalo. Willy has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Locomotives, New York Jets, San Diego Chargers, and most notably the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Toronto Argonauts, and Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Early life

Willy attended Randolph High School in Randolph, New Jersey, prior to choosing the University at Buffalo.[1] At Randolph High, Willy set school records for career passing yards (5,387) and touchdowns (51).

College career

At the University at Buffalo, Willy started each of his four seasons, including eight games as a true freshman.[2] In 2008, he took Buffalo to their first MAC Championship Game, where they upset heavily favored and previously undefeated Ball State Cardinals led by Nate Davis. Prior to the 2009 NFL draft, he was invited to the 2009 NFL Combine and was considered a potential late-round draft choice.[3]

Willy was the most prolific passer in Buffalo football history. As a four-year starter, he set school records for completions (849), attempts (1,322), passing yards (8,748), touchdowns (52), total offense (8,639), and completion percentage (64.2). During the final 20 games of his college career, Willy threw 36 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

Willy signed with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted in the 2009 NFL draft on April 27, 2009.[4] He was waived on June 18, 2009. He was re-signed on August 15 after a shoulder injury to quarterback John Beck,[5] with the team placing defensive tackle Lamar Divens on injured reserve to make room for Willy on the roster only to be waived again on August 31.

Indianapolis Colts

Willy was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad on December 9, 2009.[6] He was promoted to the active roster on December 26, 2009. He was waived on December 29 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was signed to a futures contract on February 11, 2010. He was released by the Colts in July 2010.

Las Vegas Locomotives

Willy signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League in August 2010.

He made his UFL debut on October 23 in the place of injured Locos starting QB, Tim Rattay. He completed 18 of 29 passes that day for 191 yards and a touchdown.[7] The Locos won the game against the Hartford Colonials, 24–21.

New York Jets

Willy was signed to a reserve/future contract with the New York Jets on January 7, 2011.[8] [9]

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers signed Willy to their practice squad on September 5, 2011.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

On February 28, 2012, it was announced that Willy had signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[10] Willy made his first CFL start on September 16, 2012, in Montreal against the Montreal Alouettes. He completed 22-of-35 passes for 225 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions in a losing effort.[11] Willy earned his first CFL win as a starter on July 27, 2013, against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he completed 14 of 25 pass attempts for 269 yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in relief of the injured Darian Durant.[12] In two seasons with the Roughriders, Willy was utilized in a backup role. He dressed in all 36 games over his two years with the team, and started four, passing for 1,182 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Willy was also a part of the 101st Grey Cup champion team in 2013.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

On February 6, 2014, Willy was traded to the Blue Bombers for non-import wide receiver Jade Etienne.[13] In his first year as a starter Willy lead the Bombers to a record of 7 wins and 11 losses. He played in 17 of the 18 regular season games. In the spring of 2015 Willy and the Blue bombers agreed to a contract extension through the 2017 season. In week 7 of the 2015 CFL season Willy left the game with a right knee injury: Two days later it was announced that Willy suffered a tibial plateau fracture and partial tear of the posterior cruciate ligament. He was expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks, possibly longer.[14]

Toronto Argonauts

On September 11, 2016, Willy was traded to the Toronto Argonauts in exchange for defensive back T.J. Heath, a 1st Round Pick in 2017, and a 3rd Round Pick in 2018.[15] Willy made his first appearance in Week 14, and his first start the following week. Following his start for the Argos, Willy was announced as the starting quarterback for the remaining 4 games of the season.[16] However, after making three starts Willy was once again relegated to the backup role and incumbent Ricky Ray took over the starting role in Week 18.[17] On January 2, 2017, Drew Willy and the Argos agreed to a contract restructuring which extended his contract through the 2018 season. Willy was reportedly scheduled to receive a $100,000 bonus later on January 15.[18] Were Willy to start every game in 2017, he would have earned just over $305,000 and more than $415,000 in 2018.[19] However, Willy was cut by the Argos on June 17, 2017.[20]

Montreal Alouettes

On June 26, 2017, the Montreal Alouettes announced that they had signed Willy to a one-year contract.[21] Willy appeared in 12 games for the Alouettes in 2017, completing 54 of 79 pass attempts for 547 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Willy was re-signed by the Alouettes on the second day of free agency.[22] At the start of training camp Willy and Matt Shiltz were the leading candidates to be the Als' starting quarterback to begin the 2018 season.[23] Willy started the first three games of the season before suffering a concussion in the third quarter in the team's Week 3 victory over the Roughriders.[24] Willy would miss the following game against the Redblacks, (played by Jeff Mathews) but returned to play against the Stampeders in Week 6: However, Willy left the game with a hand injury, and did not return.[25] [26] Following Montreal's 2018 season, which saw the team trade for Johnny Manziel, and sign backup quarterbacks Matthews, Antonio Pipkin and Vernon Adams to extensions,[27] Willy was released in December.[28]

In August 2019 the Blue Bombers reached out to Willy following an injury to starting quarterback Matt Nichols, however Willy and the Bombers were unable to come to an agreement and he remained a free-agent.[29]

CFL statistics

 Passing Rushing
YearTeamGamesStartedAttCompPctYardsTDIntRatingAttYardsAvgLongTDFumb
2012SSK182956972.67095493.7331153.51841
2013SSK182523261.547341108.918221.2301
2014WPG171747830563.83,769141683.9362246.21825
2015WPG7715610768.61,43483106.6191618.53001
2016WPG11513719171.71,4735492.213846.52002
2016TOR547711368.16813199110.13402
2017MTL122547968.45471281.617663.91210
2018MTL447711365.85663194.16223.7801
CFL totals92438331,24367.09,652433291.11517855.234713

External links

Notes and References

  1. McKissic, Rodney. "Willy bowls over UB coaches", The Buffalo News, August 2, 2008. Accessed July 27, 2009. "Willy had worked under a different offensive coordinator and offensive system for four straight seasons, dating from his senior season at Randolph High School in New Jersey, and said he is thrilled because he spent a second straight off-season studying under Gill and quarterbacks coach Danny Barrett."
  2. http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/roster/willy.shtml Drew Willy
  3. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=58082&draftyear=2009&genpos=QB Drew Willy
  4. Web site: The Spectrum - redirect . 2009-05-03 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100619064711/http://spectrum.buffalo.edu/article.php?id=40337 . 2010-06-19 .
  5. News: Cleo gets a chance in Baltimore. Florio. Mike. August 15, 2009. Pro Football Talk. 2009-08-15.
  6. Web site: Archived copy . www.indystar.com . 10 August 2022 . https://archive.today/20130126093815/http://www.indystar.com/article/20091209/SPORTS03/912090387/1100/Colts-put-Sorgi-on-IR-sign-tackle . 26 January 2013 . dead.
  7. Web site: Locos 24, Colonials 21 Game summary. https://web.archive.org/web/20101026123316/http://www.ufl-football.com/news/gameday-final-locos-24-colonials-21-ot . dead . October 26, 2010.
  8. Web site: Jets sign Drew Willy, T.J. Conley. Yahoo! Sports. January 7, 2011. https://archive.today/20110107223656/http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=nfp-20110107_jets_sign_drew_willy_tj_conley. January 7, 2011. January 7, 2011. dead.
  9. News: Jets name Willy starter for week 1; make two trades . New York Daily News . Mortimer Zuckerman . Mehta, Manish . September 3, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121103170833/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/09/jets-trim-roster-to-53-make-two-trades . November 3, 2012 . September 3, 2011 . dead .
  10. Web site: Riders sign QBs Brennan and Willy. 2017-08-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923225401/http://www.cfl.ca/article/riders-sign-qbs-brennan-and-willy. 2015-09-23. dead.
  11. Web site: Rookie pivot holds his own in Durant's absence | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League . 2013-08-06 . 2013-05-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130513234814/http://cfl.ca/article/rookie-pivot-holds-his-own-in-durants-absence . dead .
  12. Web site: Willy up to task as Riders out-gun Ticats in Guelph | CFL.ca | Official Site of the Canadian Football League . 2013-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130731212849/http://www.cfl.ca/article/riders-ticats-week5-recap . 2013-07-31 . dead .
  13. Web site: Getting their man: Bombers acquire QB Willy from Riders. Cfl.ca. 5 November 2021.
  14. Web site: Drew Willy, Blue Bombers QB, out 6-8 weeks with right knee injury. Cbc.ca. 2015-08-12.
  15. Web site: Blue Bombers ship Willy to Argos; acquire Glenn in trade with Als. 2016-09-11. CFL.ca. 2016-10-03.
  16. Web site: Willy the Argos' starter for rest of season. 2016-10-03. 2016-10-03.
  17. News: Can Ricky Ray rescue the Toronto Argonauts' season? Toronto Star. The Toronto Star. 17 October 2016. 2016-10-22.
  18. News: Argos restucture QB Drew Willy's contract. CBC Sports. 2017-01-03.
  19. Web site: Drew Willy, Argos agree to terms on new contract. Sportsnet. Justin DunkJustin Dunk was a five-year starter at quarterback for the University of Guelph He covers the league for. 3DownNation.. 2017-01-02. 3DownNation. 2017-01-03.
  20. Web site: Argos release quarterback Drew Willy. 2017-06-17. CFL.ca. 2017-06-18.
  21. News: Alouettes sign QB Drew Willy. 26 June 2017. CFL.ca. Canadian Football League. 26 June 2017.
  22. News: Alouettes re-sign QB Drew Willy - CFL.ca. 2018-02-14. CFL.ca. 2018-05-25. en-US.
  23. News: Willy, Shiltz lead battle for Als starting QB job - Article - TSN. 2018-05-22. TSN. 2018-05-25.
  24. News: Injury sidelines Willy during Als' win over Riders - CFL.ca. 2018-06-30. CFL.ca. 2018-08-17. en-US.
  25. News: Alouettes hand keys to plodding offence back to QB Drew Willy. 2018-07-19. Montreal Gazette. 2018-08-17. en-US.
  26. News: Montreal QB Drew Willy leaves game against Calgary with hand injury. 2018-07-22. National Post. 2018-08-17. en-US.
  27. Web site: Als extend Pipkin, Mathews and Adams Jr.. Cfl.ca. 28 October 2018.
  28. Web site: Alouettes release quarterback Drew Willy . 3DownNation.com. 28 December 2018 . 5 November 2021.
  29. Web site: Bombers talked to QB Drew Willy about a return, but it didn't work out . 3DownNation.com. 28 August 2019 . en-US. 2019-08-28.