Drew Willy
Encyclopedia
Drew Willy is an American football
quarterback
for the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
. 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
, and New York Jets
.
in Randolph, New Jersey, prior to choosing the University at Buffalo. At Randolph High, Willy set school records for career passing yards (5,387) and touchdowns (51).
, 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.
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.
after going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft
on April 27, 2009. He was waived on June 18, 2009. He was re-signed on August 15 after a shoulder injury to quarterback John Beck, 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.
practice squad on December 9, 2009. He was promoted to the active roster on December 26. He was waived on December 29 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was signed to a future contract on February 11, 2010. He was released by the Colts in July 2010.
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. The Locos won the game against the Hartford Colonials, 24-21.
on January 7, 2011. He was waived by the Jets on September 3.
signed Willy to their practice squad on September 5.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Buffalo
Buffalo Bulls football
The Buffalo Bulls football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the University at Buffalo located in the U.S. state of New York. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Football Bowl Subdivision and is a member of the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo's first...
.
Willy has also been a member of the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, Las Vegas Locomotives
Las Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
, and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Willy attended Randolph High SchoolRandolph High School (New Jersey)
Randolph High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in grades nine through twelve from Randolph, in Morris County, New Jersey, operating as part of the Randolph Township Schools. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and...
in Randolph, New Jersey, prior to choosing the University at Buffalo. 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. In 20082008 Buffalo Bulls football team
The 2008 Buffalo Bulls football team represented the University at Buffalo in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. 2008 was a season of firsts for the Bulls. With a 40-34 double overtime win over Bowling Green on November 21, the Bulls won the MAC East division and gained a berth...
, he took Buffalo to their first MAC Championship Game
2008 MAC Championship Game
The 2008 Marathon MAC Championship Game was played on December 5, 2008 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The game featured the winner of each division of the Mid-American Conference. The game featured the Ball State Cardinals, of the West Division, and the Buffalo Bulls, of the East Division...
, where they upset heavily favored and previously undefeated Ball State Cardinals
2008 Ball State Cardinals football team
The 2008 Ball State Cardinals football team represented Ball State University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2008–2009 college football season. Brady Hoke, in his sixth season at Ball State, was the head coach until December 15, when he resigned to become the head coach at San Diego State...
led by Nate Davis
Nate Davis (quarterback)
Nate Charles Davis is an American football quarterback with the Kansas City Command of the Arena Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft...
. Prior to the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
, he was invited to the 2009 NFL Combine and was considered a potential late-round draft choice.
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.
Baltimore Ravens
Willy signed with the Baltimore RavensBaltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
after going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
on April 27, 2009. He was waived on June 18, 2009. He was re-signed on August 15 after a shoulder injury to quarterback John Beck, with the team placing defensive tackle Lamar Divens
Lamar Divens
Lamar Divens is an American football defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football first at Vanderbilt but later transferred to Tennessee State.-External links:*...
on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
to make room for Willy on the roster only to be waived again on August 31.
Indianapolis Colts
Willy was signed to the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
practice squad on December 9, 2009. He was promoted to the active roster on December 26. He was waived on December 29 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was signed to a future contract on February 11, 2010. He was released by the Colts in July 2010.
Las Vegas Locomotives
Willy signed with the Las Vegas LocomotivesLas Vegas Locomotives
The Las Vegas Locomotives are a professional American football team based in Las Vegas, Nevada who play in the United Football League. The team plays its home games in Sam Boyd Stadium, home field for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Jim Fassel is the franchise's head coach, president, and...
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
Tim Rattay
Timothy F. Rattay [] is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League and United Football League. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
. He completed 18 of 29 passes that day for 191 yards and a touchdown. 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 JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 7, 2011. He was waived by the Jets on September 3.
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
signed Willy to their practice squad on September 5.