Jedrick Wills Jr

Jedrick Wills Jr. was born on May 17, 1999, in Lexington, Kentucky. He played high school football at Lafayette High School in Lexington, where he garnered recognition as a first-team All-State selection by the Associated Press during both his junior and senior years. Wills Jr.’s talent was further acknowledged through an invitation to participate in the Under Armour All-America Game, solidifying his status as a top college prospect within Kentucky. He committed to the University of Alabama, where he played college football for the Crimson Tide.

During his collegiate career at Alabama from 2017 to 2019, Wills Jr. demonstrated consistent performance and rapid career progression. As a true freshman, he appeared in 11 games, making one start. By his sophomore season, he became the starting right tackle, starting all 15 games for the Crimson Tide and earning the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Offensive Lineman of the Week award in week 7. His junior year saw him receive preseason All-American honors from multiple media outlets and he was later named a first-team midseason All-American by the Associated Press. He concluded his college career as a first-team All-SEC selection and a consensus second-team All-America, having only seven missed blocking assignments in 771 snaps during his final season.

Jedrick Wills Jr.’s professional career began when he was selected by the Cleveland Browns as the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made his NFL debut in the 2020 season opener. In Week 10 of the 2020 season, Wills Jr. was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week, becoming the first offensive lineman to receive the honor since 2013, following a game where he contributed to the Browns’ 231 rushing yards and a touchdown. He was also recognized for his strong rookie performance by being named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. The Browns exercised his fifth-year option in May 2023, reflecting his continued value to the team.