Former NFL wide receiver Damion Willis serves as the inside receivers coach for the Georgia Southern Eagles, a position he was promoted for the 2025 season.
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.
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.
THE WILLIS FILE
Personal
Hometown: Meridian, Miss.
Born: June 20, 1997 in Jackson, Miss.
College: Troy (2019); Georgia Southern (2025)
Playing Experience
East Mississippi CC (2015-16)
Troy (2017-18)
Cincinnati Bengals (2019)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2020)
Denver Broncos (2021)
New York Giants (2021)
Washington Commanders (2021)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2021-2022)
Seattle Sea Dragons (2023)
Coaching Experience
2025-: Georgia Southern (inside receivers)
2024: Georgia Southern (G.A.)
2022-23: Holmes CC (wide receivers)
College Bowl Experience
Coach
2024: New Orleans (GS vs. Sam Houston)
Player
2016: Mississippi Bowl (EMCC vs. Kilgore)
2017: New Orleans (Troy vs. North Texas)
2018: Dollar General (Troy vs. Buffalo)
Prominent Pupils
Jarvis Rush - Akron WR
Deion Smith - #1 JUCO WR (Holmes CC)
