Has played in 22 straight games over two seasons, making 89 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss... a key player in the middle of the defense... good size and agility... should have a big senior season.
JUNIOR SEASON • 2023
Played in all 11 games, starting six at middle linebacker... had 36 tackles to rank sixth on the team... also had 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a pass breakup... made a team-leading 10 tackles with a tackle for loss and an interception in the win over Cal Poly (9/23).
SOPHOMORE SEASON • 2022
Played in all 11 games, starting seven... took on a prominent role taking over at starting middle linebacker following an injury to Parker McKenna... produced all season, making 53 tackles to rank second on the team... also had five tackles for loss... made a PSU-season high 12 tackles, with one for loss, in the Dam Cup win at Eastern Washington (10/29)... had seven tackles in his first start, a win over Northern Arizona (10/1)... also had seven tackles in a win over Northern Colorado (11/5).
BEFORE PORTLAND STATE
Competed in 11 games on special teams at Utah State in 2021... was a redshirt in 2019 and receives a COVID-19 exception for 2020.
Rated as a three-star recruit, the 83rd-best athlete in the country and the eighth-best overall prospect in the state of Washington by 247Sports.com coming out of Steilacoom High School... earned first-team all-area honors by The News Tribune as a prep senior... helped the Sentinels to a 10-2 record and a league title after going 6-0 in the South Puget Sound League... named to The Seattle Times’ all-state football team and was named South Puget Sound League 2A Defensive MVP as he recorded 124 tackles, 15.0 sacks, 22.0 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles... named a member of the USA Today All-State team... offensively, he rushed for a team-high 1,198 yards on 142 carries (8.4 ypc), caught six passes for 142 yards and scored 16 touchdowns... ran for a career-high 221 yards against Clover Park HS and recorded a career-high-tying 16 tackles against Cascade Christian HS... led the Sentinels in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards per carry, tackles, tackles for loss and sacks during his senior season... selected to play for the U.S. U-18 National Team at International Bowl IX... earned South Puget Sound League Sound Division first-team honors as a junior... recorded a team-high 120 tackles (59-solo, 61-assist), which included 2.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss, to go along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery... Rushed for 739 yards on 113 carries (6.5 ypc) and recorded 10 touchdowns... team won the South Puget Sound title in 2017... As a sophomore, he recorded 96 tackles, which included 4.0 sacks... Also competed in basketball and was on the track & field team.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Sons of James and Kendra Willingham... his grandfather was a quarterback at the University of Washington... majoring in Social Science.
