Press Release via LSUE Athletics
EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice sophomore Dawson Willis has been named the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Defensive Player of the Year, the National Junior College Athletic Association announced on Monday.
Willis becomes the fifth Bengal to earn National Defensive Player of the Year, joining Jack Merrifield (2021), Brennan Bozeman (2015), Jacob Fisher (2010) and Stuart Turner (2009). LSUE has seen eight student-athletes earn national honors, including Zach Hester (Pitcher -2018) and Raph Rhymes (Player – 2010).
The Ruston, Louisiana native joins teammate Blake Lobell to earn a National Player of the Year award this year, the second time in LSUE history a pair of student-athletes earned one of the major NJCAA awards in a single season, joining 2010 (Fisher and Rhymes).
“Dawson is one of the most physically and athletically gifted players we have ever had in our program but what makes him special is his competitiveness and leadership abilities,” LSU Eunice Baseball head coach Jeff Willis said. “Whenever we needed a big play at the plate, and particularly on the field, Dawson came through his team and is incredibly deserving of this award.”
This is the latest award for Willis, who was recently honored as an All-Region 23, All-American and ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove award recipient.
The shortstop was the lynchpin behind LSUE’s fielding percentage of .972, a new program record. Willis put together an impressive .968 fielding percentage on 221 chances with 69 putouts and 145 assists while committing only seven errors. The NJCAA Division II World Series Most Valuable Player had a hand in 28 of the team’s 33 double plays.
The co-captain was a main stay for the Bengals during his Cajun Prairie career, making 110 starts of 113 games at shortstop. The leadoff batter led NJCAA Division II in runs (90) and was top five in walks (70) and stolen bases (54). He would slash .329/.505/.525, all top four in the potent LSUE offense. He led the team in hits (72) and was second in runs batted in (52).
He paced LSUE with 21 multi-hit games and ended the season reaching base in the last 19 games of the season.
At the World Series, Willis saved his best for last, leading the team with a .500 batting average (8-for-16) with seven runs scored and seven stolen bases while helping turn three double plays.
The University of Oklahoma bound infielder leaves the Cajun Prairie ranked tops in career runs (153), walks (101) and stolen bases (82), and third in on-base percentage (.492).
Willis helped lead LSU Eunice’s run to the program’s eighth NJCAA Division II National Championship with a 56-8 record. The Bengals rolled through the Region 23 Tournament with an undefeated record, and finished the title run with a 9-3 win over Brunswick Community College.