Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
EDMONTON — Odell Willis has been ready for Friday night’s contest at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium for a while now.
Willis’ BC Lions head to Edmonton to take on the the Eskimos this weekend as the defensive end plays in his first game against his former team and he’s been looking forward to this Week 3 matchup since the 2018 season schedule was released.
“I’m going to be honest with you, yes, it has,” Willis told members of the media during Wednesday’s game preview call when asked if he had Friday night’s match circled on his calendar. “I’m ready to play. I’m ready to chase my buddy Mike (Reilly) around.”
Willis spent the last five seasons in the green and gold, suiting up in 86 games and collecting 127 defensive tackles and 46 sacks with the team. This off-season, he was traded from the Esks to the REDBLACKS and then one more time that same day to the Lions.
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In practice he went up against Mike Reilly and the rest of the Eskimos’ offence each and every day and now for the first time ever he gets to go head-to-head with his former mates.
“They’ve got an explosive offence,” said Willis. “I’ve been going against it in practice for the last five years and now I get to do it live. It’s going to mean a lot to me because a couple of guys over there, those are my brothers and I want to have fun. Of course, I want to get a win just like they want to get a win. I’m most definitely ready to play.”
Throughout his CFL career before joining the Eskimos, Willis spent time with the Calgary Stampeders (2009), Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2009-2011) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (2012).
And over those four years, Willis has never gotten a sack on Reilly – he’ll be looking to get his first one this weekend- but he can recall a time where he did get some contact on the reigning Most Outstanding Player.
“The closest I’ve gotten to Mike before now is 2012 on a field goal return,” remembered Willis, with Reilly laughing in the background. “Tristan Jackson returned a missed field goal for a touchdown and I got a chance to block Mike.”
Not only is Willis excited to play against his former teammates, but the Eskimos are equally to lineup against him.
“I feel like it’ll be an uphill battle and the sky is the limit for this offence,” said Eskimos receiver Derel Walker, who joined Willis along with Reilly and BC quarterback Jonathon Jennings, on the call.
“I’m looking forward to coming out to play against Odell.”
Kickoff between the Eskimos and Lions is at 10:00 p.m. ET.
