STATESBORO - Former NFL wide receiver Damion Willis has been promoted to the inside receivers coach for the Georgia Southern football program, as announced Friday by head coach Clay Helton.

Willis joined the Eagle staff in 2024 as an offensive graduate assistant, helping coach an offensive group that saw Jalen White score 13 rushing touchdowns, JC French set the school record for completion percentage in a season and four players earn all-conference honors.

"Adding Damion Willis enhances an already strong offensive coaching staff," Helton said. "Damion played at the highest level as a receiver, was a first-team All-Sun Belt receiver and brings an elite skill set to the inside receivers room. We're beyond excited to be able to announce this hire and I look forward to watching the impact Damion will have on this program."

In 2022 and 2023, he was the wide receivers coach at Holmes Community College, helping the squad to back-to-back winning seasons. In 202, Holmes was the No. 1 passing offense in the NJCAA. He also served as the kickoff return coordinator both seasons.

He started his collegiate career playing at East Mississippi CC before transferring to Troy for his final two years. As a senior, he earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors as he led the conference in catches of 40-plus yards and 30-plus yards. He ranked seventh nationally with his seven 40-plus yard receptions and 12th with 10 30-plus yard catches. Despite missing two-and-a-half games, he finished second in the Sun Belt with eight touchdown receptions and was second in the league averaging 77.5 yards per game. In his final game, he caught 13 passes for 101 yards and two scores in the Dollar General Bowl to earn offensive MVP honors. He finished the year with 56 catches for 876 yards and 10 scores.

His junior season, he tied the New Orleans Bowl record with 11 catches as he finished with 136 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns in Troy's 50-30 victory over North Texas. He caught 42 passes for 620 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

Upon graduating from Troy in 2019 with a degree in broadcast journalism, Willis began his professional career. He made the Cincinnati roster in 2019 as an undrafted free agent and earned a start with the Bengals against Seattle, catching three passes for 30 yards. He also earned roster spots with Jacksonville (2020), Denver (2021), New York Giants (2021), Washington (2021), Pittsburgh (2021-2022) and in the XFL with the Seattle Sea Dragons (2023).

Willis earned his Master's degree in kinesiology in May of 2025 from Georgia Southern.