Khari Willis, fresh from mini-camp, and signing his first pro contract with the Indianapolis Colts, stopped by the Jackson ESPN studios to chat with GOC.
Willis is set to make $495,000 in base salary with a $191,776 signing bonus in 2019, per Sportrac. His salary is 0.29 percent of the Colts 2019 salary cap. He signed a 4 year, $3,287,104 contract with the Indianapolis Colts, including a $767,104 signing bonus, $767,104 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $821,776.
Willis agreed with Jackson ESPN’s assessment that the Colts seem like a great fit. “Definitely think it’s a perfect fit. Not just because of who they are now, but the history with the organization and the City of Jackson. Obviously, with Tony Dungy, and my second cousin play there and play well. With what they’re building right now, I couldn’t ask for a better fit.”
Originally, Khari was a great basketball athlete, but had to say goodbye to the sport before heading to college. “I think with basketball, it was always my first love. They measured me at 5’10” at the combine, I think going with what works with me and my career, football made a lot of sense,” Willis said. “I knew prior going to Michigan State I was going to be playing safety, and I kind of started preparing myself. I put AAU basketball down my senior year and just started working on being more fluent with the movements I have to do at defensive back. Once I got to Michigan State each year I took steps in the right direction.”
Now committed to the NFL for the next four years, football becomes a business, and Khari agrees, at least off the field. “When you’re on the field, you can’t treat it like that. You just got to go out and have fun. But, off the field, its definitely a business; but once everything is signed, let’s go play some ball.”
Khari never strays far from his roots, and continues to be the humble but talented athlete Jackson ESPN has been covering for the past few years. For him, family is everything, but not just his immediate family. “I think not just the Willis family, but all the other families within out community. The south side of Jackson, our church community, our background. There’s a lot of people, and if I’m able to effect or make them proud or shed light in any way, that’s something I don’t take for granted, it’s an honor.”