Roy T. Willey IV, injury attorney for Devin Willock's family, holds press conference Thursday

Go Big Injury Lawyers attorney Roy T. Willey IV speaks to the media during a called press conference on Thursday, Jan. 20 in front of the Athens-Clarke County courthouse steps. (LANCE MCCurley/Staff)

ATHENS — Roy T. Willey IV of “Go Big Injury Lawyers,” the attorney representing a UGA football player’s family who tragically died in a car accident over the weekend, called a press conference with media Thursday at the steps of the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse.

Devin Willock, an offensive lineman for the Bulldogs, passed away early Sunday in a vehicle driven by a UGA recruiting staff member, Chandler LeCroy, who also lost her life.

Willey said on Thursday afternoon that he is representing the parents, Dave and Sharlene Willock.

A press release Wednesday said the firm planned to hold a press conference the following day in Athens at the courthouse to discuss legal action, possibly against UGA.

The press conference, which was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., got pushed back to 3 p.m.

However, Willey and a member of his team showed up around 2:45 p.m. to speak to the media.

The press conference lasted less than eight minutes and no legal action was discussed at the time.

According to the AJC, Dave Willock learned of the press conference through the news Wednesday and didn’t plan on taking any legal action against the university “at this time.”

“No, Georgia is working with us,” Willock said to Chip Towers and Dylan Jackson of the AJC. “We have no reason to do that because they are compensating us 100 percent.”

Neither Dave nor Sharlene Willock attended the press conference with Willey on Thursday.

Willey said he and the family met with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department and the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office Thursday morning to evaluate how the investigation was going, but also to see if there were any updates on the incident that occurred.

“Devin’s parents are understandably grieving having seen his body for the first time yesterday, and having received updates today (Jan. 19) on the investigation,” Willey stated.

He also read a statement from the Willock family, which thanked the UGA coaching staff, specifically head coach Kirby Smart, teammates and law enforcement for caring about their son.

Willey also said that anyone with “pertinent information” information about the crash contacts his law firm, which Willock had a “Name, Image and Likeness” (NIL) deal with.

“We will release information as it is verified, available and appropriate. For the sake of these two families, verify your information before publishing it,” Willey said. “These families do not deserve or need to combat rumors on top of the tremendous losses that they are dealing with.”

The attorney added that a funeral service will be held for Willock, but didn’t specify any details.

Willey then walked away from reporters when he was done speaking and declined any questions.

The statement in full read:

“First, we would like to thank the city of Athens and the overwhelming support of the Georgia and New Jersey football communities, fans, teammates, coaches and friends over the past few days. As there are no words that can be found to describe the grief that we are experiencing with our loss, the support of all those that have said kind words and shared loving memories of Devin has helped us during this time. What we would like everyone to know is that Devin was more than just a football player.

“He was a trusted friend, a supportive and loving brother, a dedicated student and a wonderful son. Devin's infectious personality and loving smile is one that no one who met or saw him will ever forget. He was a young man that was not solely driven by football. He was driven by his love of others and his desire to fulfill his future. He is someone that we know people that met him will never forget, not because of this tragedy but because of the positive experiences, influences and interactions that they had with him.

“To know Devin simply was to love him, and being the amazing young man that he was, Devin gave nothing but love and positivity to those around him. We also ask that you keep Chandler LeCroy's family in your thoughts and prayers, along with Warren McClendon and Tory Bowles, so that they may be fully healed. Although we will never be able to truly get over this moment, your prayers, thoughts and memories of Devin continue to give us strength during this time. Thank you, Dave and Sharlene Willock.”

Here is the video from the press conference on Thursday: