MIAMI — Malik Willis had a smile plastered on his face as he walked off the field following his most difficult training camp practice with the Miami Dolphins.

The New York Giants’ talented defensive front had just sacked him and his fellow Dolphins quarterbacks more than half a dozen times during Thursday’s joint practice. Yet Willis was expressing gratitude for the day of struggles.

Adversity, trials and tribulations, have a way of forging our identity, crafting our makeup, helping us become who we’re destined to be.

The way Willis probably views it, Thursday’s practice is no different than the story of his playing career as a quarterback who consistently got knocked down, but kept getting up.

Until now, Willis has spent his entire football career being overlooked, doubted.

“Everybody in life goes through stuff off the field,” Willis said. “That was my journey on the field.

“If you trust God only when it’s good, it’s fake, it’s a facade.”

What’s real is Willis’ arduous journey in football, where despite his eye-opening arm talent — which is on par with the best in the league — he wasn’t always well received as a quarterback.

He played receiver his junior year at Westlake High for the first five games because a quarterback with a bigger name transferred to his school. When he eventually became his school’s quarterback after a 2-3 start he led Westlake to the third round of the Georgia state playoffs.

The next season he led an undefeated Rosewell High team to the state championship before losing the final game.

At Auburn, Willis, a three-star recruit, sat behind Jared Stidham for two seasons before then-Auburn coach Gus Malzahn recommended he transfer because Bo Nix, a highly touted recruit with strong a Tiger lineage, was joining the program.

“Colleges are run by the boosters,” Willis said when asked about leaving Auburn’s program to make way for Nix, who is now the starter for the Denver Broncos. “Bo’s dad and granddad went there, and Bo is a hell of a player.”

Willis chose Liberty over Georgia State and Troy to continue his collegiate career, and showcased enough talent in his two seasons to be mentioned as a possible first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

However, talent evaluators questioned how NFL ready Willis was, and he slid to the third round, where the Tennessee Titans selected him with the 86th overall pick.

“Seems like they were right,” Willis said, referring to his first two NFL seasons, where he struggled to grasp a pro-style offense. “Took me a minute to get up to speed with the NFL operation. I think it worked out for the best, honestly.”

When his opportunity to start a game in Tennessee arrived he had limited practice or preparation time with starters he was playing with, and struggled as Ryan Tannehill’s replacement in three starts, where he produced a 1-2 record and a dismal 42.8 passer rating.

His first impression as an NFL quarterback was a disaster.

A new Titans regime took over in his second season and drafted Will Levis with the first pick in the second round of the 2023 draft, and from there the camp competition clearly favored their rookie, draftee, which led to Willis being traded to Green Bay at the conclusion of training camp in 2024 for a 2025 seventh-round pick.

In Green Bay, Willis shined when pressed into duty as Jordan Love’s backup for two seasons. His play made him one of the hottest names in free agency this spring.

When the opportunity presented itself to join what former Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan and former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley were building in Miami as the Dolphins new general manager and head coach, he jumped on it.

“Go where you’re loved and not liked,” Willis said when asked if he turned down a better offer from an NFL team to join the Dolphins, which signed him to a three-year, $67.5 million deal, which guaranteed the 27-year-old $45 million.

“It was cool to hear familiar voices, what they said, and the belief. That’s where it starts,” Willis said about his relationship with Hafley and Sullivan. “If someone believes in you …”

Willis pauses for a moment and then continues.

“Two things I know about both of those guys is they can be honest, and they are not going to BS you,” Willis said. “If they are going to be honest I can respect it.”

In Green Bay, as the Packers defensive coordinator for the previous two seasons, Hafley challenged Willis to stretch himself weekly, requiring him to replicate the style of whatever quarterback Green Bay was facing.

As a result, he studied the Jared Goffs of the NFL to impersonate their style, and doing so helped him grow. Working against Hafley’s unit weekly, helping them get prepared for games, allowed his skill set to evolve.

Initially, Willis’ start in Miami was slow as he worked to form bonds with the players around him as everyone learned the offense. But he has progressively gotten better each day, showcased the ability that convinced this regime he was ready to become an NFL starter.

“His confidence is starting to grow.” Hafley said, addressing Willis’ training camp performance. “He’s understanding the scheme more in Bobby Slowik [offense] and he’s starting to lead more.

“It’s going to be fun to watch as he continues to develop.”

Even though he’s a veteran, the Dolphins organization views Willis as an NFL rookie, someone equivalent to a quarterback taken in the first round.

As such, they realize he’ll need time, patience, and nurturing to blossom into the quarterback he has the potential to be.

But if things go right, if his skills, intelligence, demeanor and personality hit their stride, Willis should be able to prove he’s worthy of the franchise quarterback distinction.

This season will be the first time an NFL franchise will give Willis the opportunity and time to grow, and he’s thankful for that.

“Everybody don’t get a fair shot,” Willis said. “All you can do is take advantage of what you got.”

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