Brandon Willis’s Road Back to UCLA: A Complicated One
by Nestor on Aug 22, 2011 9:30 AM PDT
in Football
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PrintUCLA boards have been buzzing last few days about former blue chip DT Brandon Willis possibly heading back to UCLA ... again. If your head is spinning a bit at this news, here is a reset (not adding all previous links as you can search "Brandon Willis" on BN):
- Brandon Willis was a highly regarded DT recruit for Lane Kiffin (Kiffin reportedly ran afoul of NCAA regulations to go after him) and committed to Tennessee;
- Willis then asked out of his Tennessee commitment and signed with UNC;
- Then the Butch Davis' scandal broke out at UNC and he transferred to UCLA last September and sat out as a redshirt
- Then Davis' transferred to UNC earlier this year so that he could reportedly help take care of an ailing family member back home
- Then UNC's football program completely imploded as the Tar Heel administration fired Butch Davis earlier this summer and Willis decided to leave UNC.
Now rumors are surfacing that Willis wants to come back to UCLA. From Jon Gold:
Willis might be headed back to UCLA. He just confirmed the news, as did a source inside the program, but I'm obviously a bit skeptical of the whole situation. There is nothing official yet out of UCLA.
Willis added that he's not sure if he'd be eligible this season, but either way, it would obviously be a boon to the Bruins. Lost in the ongoing ordeal over the last few years - verbally commits to Tennessee, decommits and commits to North Carolina, transfers from North Carolina to UCLA, decides to transfer from North Carolina, now back to UCLA - is Willis' real talent.
Foster added this in the LA Times:
UCLA will attempt to get Willis a waiver from the NCAA so he can play this season. If Willis is not granted a waiver, he would have to sit out for a second consecutive season and would have three seasons of eligibility remaining, according to the person in the program.
I'd suggest everyone to hold their excitement level here because the situation is a bit complicated. I am not holding my breath and I will explain a little more after the jump.
From what I have heard when Willis was released from UCLA allowing him to transfer back to Chapel Hill, he enrolled in UNC's summer school. So he became a UNC student. It is also not clear whether NCAA granted his petition to become immediately eligible to play for UNC. I have not seen or read any report confirming that. So with that situation in limbo, it seems like it may unrealistic to expect that Willis can just waltz right back to UCLA and become eligible to play this season immediately.
I think if Willis is really interested in coming back to UCLA, we will welcome him with open arms. But at the same time all parties involved need to be realistic about the situation and understand that chances he will most likely have to sit out yet another season (given he started attending UNC as a student). Of course, it helps that UCLA has a pretty nice depth at the defensive frontline. So having him on the team will give us nice boost going into next season.
Either way, wherever Willis ends up, we wish him luck. He has been through a lot as a young man. From our understanding Willis left UCLA on really good terms and the coaches and our guys will be happy to welcome him back. Yet before there is a final decision on the part of Willis, we hope he takes his time, considers all options and make a decision that is best for him in the long term. As always, he should remember this is not just about football, but also getting an education that could set him up for long term success in life. Good luck to him.
GO BRUINS.
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Complicated indeed
But as far as I’m concerned, he was admitted to UCLA a year ago and has sat out without playing one year. The only question in my mind is whether his time at UNC might have hurt his UCLA eligibility. As far as football eligibility, no reason why he shouldn’t be allowed to play this year. However, he will have missed both camps (did he go through spring camp with UNC?), so it may be a while in any case before he sees the field if all the stars align.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I think the key issue is whether NCAA will consider him
As an enrolled student at UNC. If he was attending UNC this summer on UNC’s (scholarship) dime, the issue becomes tricky in terms of immediate eligibility.
I don't think it's tricky
but i’m taking a simplified view of things. His transfer waiver, to my knowledge, was denied when he went back to UNC, as he was enrolled/practicing with UCLA and in our training program, had sat out a year, and was prepared to play (at UCLA). When he left, he was ineligible. However, he’s coming back, and has not played a single down. It would be insane for the NCAA to deny the kid ANOTHER year based on the fact that he’s returning to the school where he agreed to sit out, and indeed, did sit out. The NCAA, though, is bound and determined to be as inscrutable as possible, so I put nothing past them in the bureaucracy dept.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
Where have you seen the report of his transfer waiver at UNC being denied?
I’d like to see actual confirmation before making simplistic assertions. Also, don’t care about speculation referenced in message boards.
I don't have specific confirmation.
Hence the “to my knowledge” bit. It’s not speculation to consider the fact that either way, whether granted the waiver at UNC or not, there’s an argument to be made that he should be eligible to play immediately at UCLA.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on Aug 22, 2011 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions
I rather wait for hard information
Instead of making simplistic conclusions. Otherwise, it is rumor mongering – especially if you cannot substantiate via a credible source. We don’t really care much for “too my knowledge,” “I am hearing” … that kind of stuff here on BN.
So it's like serving a 2 year mission...
without having to ride bikes…or knock on doors!!! Not too bad.
Eligibility is one thing. Bouncing around as he has, is another.
Some may question his commitment as a result.
Does UCLA even want him at this point? Did he get assurances from CRN that he’d gt a new scholie?
Are the coaches worried how long he’ll stay this time?
Everyone has a story
I really doubt this is what he had in mind when he went to play football. It’s not like he’s not getting playing time and bouncing around to try to make a team. This is what happened to him:
- committed to Flame Kitten at Tennessee, then decommitted when Flame left
- went to UNC, but he recently lost his Mom, and his Dad found new employment opportunities near LA so he wanted his son near him.
- transferred to UCLA, sat out the 2010 season
- went back to UNC to be near ailing grandmother
- UNC program goes bust with Butch Davis getting fired
- tries to come back to UCLA
It’s not like he’s a troublemaker, these are real tangible things that have happened and affected his choices.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Kid looks like just the opposite of a selfish...
headcase. He made sacrifices for others at the expense of himself. I have a feeling he will play his HEART out for UCLA. There is a lot to like about this kid. I sure wish him well. Too much drama for that young man. He needs to get back some normalcy in his life..like plowing some Coliseum turf with Matt Barkley facemask. Here is hoping…
That would unmistakably
symbolize what this team has been through. A great exclamation point to the end of the regular season. Either him or Datone rubbing that dipstick’s face in the dirt is an image that brings joy.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
NCAA Transfers 101 for Div I/II/III
So, I just spent the last 20 mins reading through this NCAA publication that is available online about player transfers, and Willis’ situation is complicated. However, there may be some silver linings for UCLA if he does indeed decide to “transfer” back here. Granted, I’m not a legal expert, so the following is based on my interpretation of the transfer rules as outlined by this NCAA document. Here are some tidbits I found that may illuminate his situation better:
1) Is Willis a transfer-athlete? If Willis is considered a transfer-athlete, he must fulfill the one-year academic residence prior to playing football. To be considered a transfer-athlete, one of the following three conditions must be met: a) enrolled as a full-time student during a regular academic term (summer does not count), b) reported for practice with the regular squad, or c) practiced or played while enrolled part-time. The questions I don’t have answers to are whether Willis enrolled full-time while at UNC after leaving UCLA, and whether he participated in any official practices with the team. Can anyone provide more info on this? If Willis can answer no to all of these questions, he may not be viewed as a “transfer-athlete” according to the NCAA definition. Therefore, the one-year academic residency requirement may be waived.
2) The basic transfer rule is “You must spend one academic year in residence before you are eligible to compete.” If Willis is classified as a transfer-athlete from UNC, his return to UCLA would trigger the one-year clock. However, his situation is a little unique in the sense that he already served his academic year in residence at UCLA prior to leaving for UNC. Would the NCAA waive this requirement if he returns to UCLA since he technically already served his academic year in residence? Willis can make a strong case to have this requirement waived.
3) Transferring from a 4-year to another 4-year school. For athletes transferring from one 4-year institution to another, the one-year academic in residence requirement can be waived “if you return to your first school without participating at the second school.” If Willis did not participate in an official UNC team practice, he can petition to waive the one-year requirement. If he did, then this point is moot.
The biggest question is whether or not Willis participated in any official UNC team practices prior to the Butch Davis debacle. If he didn’t, he can make a strong argument for immediate playing eligibility should he return to UCLA. I couldn’t find any information to confirm or deny his participation in team practices since his transfer from UCLA. I’ll keep searching and post what I find. Regardless where he does end up, I wish Brandon the best as his commitment to family is something to be admired.
Nice analysis Kerckoff405
Anyway you can share this in a fanpost pointing to the link where you got the info. from?
According to scouts NCtarheel site...
BW did NOT participate in spring pracrice. Post was made by a administrator I think. He did enroll however.
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