Carver Willis | OT | University of Washington
Carver Willis is a 6’5”, 303-pound offensive tackle from the University of Washington. Willis spent five seasons at Kansas State from 2020 to 2024 before transferring to Washington in January 2025 via the portal, where he started ten games at left tackle in his lone season with the program. During his time at Kansas State, he appeared in 35 games with 18 starts, working primarily at right tackle, and served as a team captain in 2024 while anchoring a line that set school records in rushing yards per carry and offensive yards per play. His accolades include Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media in 2025, the John P. Angel Offensive Lineman of the Year Award at Washington’s postseason banquet, and Honorable Mention All-Big 12 recognition in 2023 as part of a Joe Moore Award semifinalist unit. He also accepted an invitation to the 2026 Senior Bowl.
Athletically, Willis flashes good short-area burst to get to the second level on run plays and screens. He also displays good speed and acceleration when pulling, which allows him to reach defensive backs in space on toss plays. He is a good mover in space with the hip fluidity to flip and seal blocks. His lateral agility and change of direction show up consistently when working to the second level. His play strength is solid on the majority of reps, as he can drive defenders backward and sustain blocks. Mentally, Willis displays good awareness in both pass protection and the run game, doing a solid job processing stunts and passing off rushers while picking up loopers in time. His competitive toughness and tenacity stand out, especially in the run game, where he finishes reps even when the run goes away from him.
Carver Willis is a tough, athletic, versatile offensive tackle with the movement skills and tenacity to thrive in a zone-heavy running scheme. He flashes good short-area burst out of his stance and is a fluid mover in space, climbing to the second level quickly and redirecting to cover linebackers on the move. He plays tough in the run game, consistently driving his feet through contact and finishing blocks. In pass protection, he gets good depth on his kick step and maintains a wide base. However, he plays tall at times, which compromises his leverage and exposes his chest to bull rushes. His punch timing can be inconsistent, allowing defenders to swipe his hands down. He also struggled multiple times against speed rushes, oversetting, and leaning, which opened him up to inside counters. He lacks the ideal length for a tackle and the ideal mass for a guard, but his mental processing, recognition of stunts, and competitive toughness give him a real chance to carve out a role at the next level with positional flexibility on either side of the line.
In conclusion, Carver Willis is a tough, athletic, and versatile offensive lineman with the movement skills, competitive toughness, and football IQ to develop into a reliable starter at the next level. On tape, you will see a lineman who wins at the point of attack, finishes his blocks through the whistle, and moves well enough in space to pull, reach block, and climb to the second level on time.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit:
Carver Willis best projects to an outside and wide zone running scheme that takes advantage of his burst, lateral agility, and hip fluidity. This will allow him to execute reach blocks, climb to the second level, and seal defenders away from the play side. His ability to finish in space also makes him an asset in a gap/pull-heavy run game. In pass protection, he would benefit from a quick-game passing attack that limits his exposure to speed rushers while he refines his punch timing and pad level. Given his marginal length for tackle and lack of ideal mass for guard, a team that values positional versatility and is willing to develop him as a swing tackle or kick him inside to guard would be ideal. The Atlanta Falcons, under Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees, are a good fit. With offensive line coach Bill Callahan’s reputation for developing linemen and Kaleb McGary’s recent retirement opening a need at right tackle, Willis’ experience at right tackle makes Atlanta a good landing spot. Another good fit would be with the Los Angeles Rams. They run a wide zone scheme that fits Willis’ burst, hip fluidity, and ability to reach block and climb to the second level. The Denver Broncos would also be a good fit as they lean heavily on gap/pull concepts like Counter and Pin-and-Pull that would take advantage of Willis’ speed and finishing ability as a puller.
NFL Player Comp: Dillon Radunz
Like Radunz, Willis is an athletic, tough, versatile offensive lineman with the movement skills to thrive in a zone scheme and the positional flexibility to play either tackle spot or kick inside to guard. Both players flash good short-area burst, solid lateral agility, and a finisher’s mentality in the run game. Radunz has carved out a role as a versatile swing lineman who can start in a pinch at multiple spots, which is a realistic outcome for Willis at the next level.
Projection: Low End Starter
Carver Willis projects as a versatile linemen with the ability to start at either tackle spot, kick inside to guard, and even center. His positional flexibility, athletic ability in space, and mental processing give him a clear path to meaningful snaps in the right scheme. Within three years, it is expected that he will develop into a Low End Starter.
Grade: 4.66
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