Super Bowl XLIX spotlight: Windsor’s Willson ignited by competitive fire (VIDEO)

 

With the kickoff to Super Bowl XLIX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks only a day away, CanadaFootballChat.com is featuring Windsor, Ontario tight end Luke Willson, who will be suiting up for the Seahawks.

LUKE WILLSON:

The 6’5, 251 pound tight end was selected in the fifth round (158th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft.

This past season, he amassed 362 yards on 22 receptions (average of 16.5 yards per reception), and tallied three majors. As for the postseason, he has 79 yards on six receptions (average of 13.2 yards per reception) and scored a touchdown.

Last year, Willson has 272 yards on 20 receptions (average of 13.6 yards per reception) and scored one touchdown. The Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2014.

Luke Willson Super Bowl

Previous to the Seahawks, Willson suited up for NCAA Division 1 FBS team Rice Owls.  During his time with the Owls, Willson converted from a slotback to his current position as a tight end. In his first two seasons with the Owls, he registered 738 yards on 62 catches and scored six touchdowns. Despite an ankle injury this season, Willson racked up 126 yards on nine catches and scored two touchdowns in six games with the team.  Ultimately, he played a significant role in helping the Owls make a Bowl appearance.

Willson was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the fourth round of the 2012 CFL Draft.  Earlier in his career, he played at the varsity level for the Essex Ravens of the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) where the tight end amassed 473 yards on 13 passes.

Luke Willson

During his high school career with St. Thomas of Villanova Wildcats of the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA), Willson played both sides of the ball.  Offensively, he had 638 yards on 29 passes and scored eight touchdowns.  Additionally, he registered 60 tackles and five sacks on the team’s defensive unit. He was a three-year All-Conference selection and named St. Thomas of Villanova’s junior and senior Athlete of the Year.

Willson has also excelled on the baseball diamond.  The Ontario native was selected as a member of the Canadian junior baseball team in 2008 and previously participated in the World Junior Baseball Championship which was held in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2011, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Draft Luke Willson 2

Glen Mills had the privilege of instructing Willson for three years on both the Ravens and Wildcats squads.  Not only has he coached the Windsor tight end, but also his two older twin brothers Eric and Greg for a combined total of six years.  Mills reflected on the hard work and competitive spirit Willson showed early on in his career.  He is not surprised by the success the offensive standout has been able to achieve since then.

“Luke is a tremendously gifted athlete with a tremendous work ethic,” recalled Mills, who speaks with Willson frequently.  “He was a pleasure to coach.”

“Luke loves to compete. I always knew that Luke would do big things because of his work ethic.”

Ultimately, Mills and entire Windsor community are proud of how far Willson has come and are pulling for him to bring the Vince Lombardi trophy back home.

“I think this is a tremendous honour for our area to have such a fine young man represent us in the Super Bowl,” added Mills.

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