Willis leaving Wayne State football program

WAYNE, Neb. -- A former starting quarterback and captain is leaving the Wayne State College football program.

Tavian Willis, who opened the 2021 season as the team's starting quarterback before being injured and losing the job to Nick Bohn, announced his intention to leave the program and enter the transfer portal this week.

A native of Missouri, Willis started three games for the Wildcats in 2021 under then-head coach John McMenamin. He played in just three games this season during the Wildcats' run to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Though Bohn gained the starting position in 2021, and retained it throughout all of 2022 under first-year head coach Logan Masters, Willis was named a co-captain alongside Bohn this fall.

For his career, Willis threw for 1,196 yards and rushed for 404 yards in 16 total appearances. He redshirted his first season in 2018 under then-head coach Dan McLaughlin before seeing the field in 2019, 2021 and 2022. The Wildcats did not play in 2020 after the NSIC canceled the entire season due to COVID-19.

The mechanical engineering major will have one season of eligibility remaining. Bohn is expected back for the Wildcats next season for his junior campaign after throwing for 2,246 yards and rushing for 725 as a sophomore.