The 11th pick in the draft is leading the NFL in tackles even though he has been playing with a broken hand for a month. One of his 110 tackles, a come-from-behind takedown of Cardinals receiver Sean Morey last week after a 62-yard pass reception, saved a victory for the 49ers.

"He might be the best linebacker in football right now," one front office man said. "The only thing he's still working on a little bit is pass drop awareness."

San Francisco coach Mike Nolan has coached two previous defensive rookies of the year: Mike Croel with the Broncos in 1991 and Terrell Suggs with the Ravens in 2003. He says neither compares to Willis.

"He's clearly head and shoulders above those guys," Nolan said.

In fact, Nolan compares Willis to another player he coached, Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis.

"Early in his career Ray made a lot of tackles and was around the ball a lot, like Patrick," Nolan said.

The Butkus Award winner from Mississippi plays all four downs. When the 49ers are in a 3-4, he's the weak-side inside linebacker. When they go 4-3, he's the middle linebacker. He even plays on the field-goal block team.

Why has Willis been able to acclimate so quickly? Nolan said he believes it has to do with his background. Willis played four years in college, so he has a broad base of experience.

He also has heeded the advice of coaches and has "a great moral compass," according to Nolan. When he was 16, Willis, along with his three younger siblings, was abandoned by their parents after allegations of physical abuse by their father. Six years ago, Willis' junior high school basketball coach and his wife adopted Willis and his siblings.

Chris Finley is a different race than Willis and only 8 years older, but he and his wife, Julie, have been a wonderful influence.