Every Finalist's Best Sales Pitch to Land 5-Star DL Gerald Willis

A 5-star recruit, Gerald Willis of Edna Karr High School in New Orleans is one of the premier defensive line prospects in the country. He is a tough defender who can be a menace for offenses in the trenches.

Willis, who is 6'3" and 275 pounds, has good quickness at the snap. He plays defensive end now, but is on track to grow into a gap-penetrating defensive tackle in college. He possesses solid strength at the point of attack, is athletic in pursuit and shows a good short-area burst to finish on the ball.

Willis is a coveted recruit, but has narrowed his list to a core group of finalists, per Chad Simmons of Scout.com. With recruiting approaching the homestretch, each finalist is preparing to make their best sales pitch to land the talented recruit.

Player evaluations are based on review of tape at Scout.com, Rivals, 247Sports and ESPNU.

USC

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The Trojans are without a permanent head coach at the moment, but still remain one of the best programs in the country. The team routinely has a talented roster, the facilities are great and Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the world.

Although USC isn't dominant now, it won't be long before it's back among the nation's elite.

USC's sales pitch Willis:

"Come to USC and help us get back to the glory days. We're going to hire a winning head coach, he'll right the ship and together we will all get back on top. You'll love Los Angeles, as the weather and vibe of the city is great for young adults. We have excellent facilities, our fanbase treats players like kings and our alumni will always take care of you after football. You'll get a great degree, plus NFL scouts are always around our program."

Florida

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The Gators are one of the most talented teams in the country. They play in front of great fans, in a great town for college football and are always in the hunt for championships. 

Head coach Will Muschamp is one of the best defensive minds in the country, and the program has an impressive history of winning.

Florida's sales pitch to Willis:

"Florida is your best bet for several reasons. First, we win a ton of games here. Our head coach, Will Muschamp, is among the premier defensive minds in the country, which is why we have one of the nation's best defenses every year. We'll surround you with a roster full of future NFL players, who you'll get along great with. You'll be beloved by our large fanbase, receive great exposure and you'll get a great degree."

Texas A&M

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The Aggies are a sexy program to recruits these days, as they have a "cool" factor. Head coach Kevin Sumlin allows his players to have fun, the fans are insanely passionate and great tradition surrounds the program.

Texas A&M has a lot of young talent, is on pace to bring another great recruiting class and College Station treats young people well.

Texas A&M's sales pitch to Willis:

"Being an Aggie would be special for you. You'll get to get away from home, but still not be too far. We'll let you get after the quarterback here, in a defensive scheme that fits your strengths, plus you'll still be able to play in the SEC. We have a ton of young talent, which is why we will be in the SEC/national title hunt for several years. You very well could be that missing piece we need on defense to get us over the hump, and you could play immediately here. The fans will love you, and you'll feel the same way about them, our solid facilities, location and other perks in our program."

LSU

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The Tigers are also one of the nation's top programs. They are led by head coach Les Miles, who may be the ultimate player's coach. Talent is in the stable in Baton Rouge, as LSU has a team full of fast, strong and athletic players.

Gamedays are electric, the fans are menacing to opposing teams and the Tigers are a championship-caliber program.

LSU's sales pitch to Willis:

"This is this best place for you to accomplish your goals. It'll be most special here because you will be representing your native state. Your family and friends will not be far away, you will be a legend in Louisiana and we'll win. Our coaching staff will develop you into an All-SEC player, you'll be surrounded by many players you already know and the fans will worship you. Plus, you'll be playing against the best competition in the country, on the biggest stage and will be getting on-the-job NFL training. Come here, and play hard in front of all the people who have supported you."

2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map

Use the 2014 Bleacher Report College Football Recruiting Heat Map to locate Willis, and many other talented recruits from across the country!

Edwin Weathersby is the College Football Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. He has worked in scouting/player personnel departments for three professional football teams, including the New York Giants and Cleveland Browns.