2 weeks Ago By Andrew Gamble
Jared Wilson enters the NFL as a two-time national champion with Georgia - and the star center hopes to dominate at the next level like Jason Kelce . After operating as the backup for his first few seasons, Wilson was able to showcase the full extent of the ability he wields in 2024. He started 12 games for the Bulldogs, protecting Carson Beck - who transferred to Miami - and earned Coaches Second Team All-SEC honors as Georgia reached the College Football Playoff before losing to Notre Dame .
Wilson knows his eye-popping athleticism ensures he can move better than his peers in the same position, which will help him in the pros when the game speeds up from college football . However, he was also quick to identify his footwork as a critical strength of his heading into the NFL Draft , despite starting playing football later than others. “I didn't start playing football until I was in high school, my freshman year,” Wilson exclusively told Mirror U.
S. Sports . “My first sport was soccer - I played midfield and defender - then I went to basketball.
I played soccer from fourth grade to seventh grade and then basketball from seventh to eighth grade. “Then I started growing out instead of up; I stopped getting taller and I started getting a little wider, getting bigger. I couldn't run up and down the field like I used to, so my mom was like, ‘One day she's like, you need to play football.
Like, you need to go out there and give it a try, see how you like it.’ “From my freshman year in high school, I just fell in love with the game. Mama, she knows best.
And because of my soccer background, my feet were really good.” When he first picked up pads at West Forsyth High School in North Carolina, Wilson was willing to play whatever position he could to get on the field. He started at tackle but got steadily moved inside until he found himself in the middle at center.
OK, he thought, he could play center. There was just one issue. “The hardest part was definitely getting consistent with my snap,” Wilson recalled while laughing.
“I remember I would go home and want to rip my hair out because I couldn't snap the ball. But just working on that, and getting it right was like the world coming off my shoulders. It was the best thing ever because calling the calls, reading the defense, that stuff wasn't really trouble.
Just getting my snap consistent every single play was the most frustrating thing that I went through. Getting over that, it’s been all good since.” Wilson insists he doesn’t model his game off anyone else, but in terms of grit and mentality, there are a few NFL players he has closely watched.
Chiefs guard Trey Smith is a favorite of his, as is Kelce. “Jason Kelce, a smaller center, 280 pounds, maybe 6’2”, but just the way he moved in space was great,” Wilson said. “And also how he handled the bigger guys on the defensive line, just using their leverage against them and ended up making a great block driving his feet.
It was amazing to see.” Wilson fancies himself as a leader thanks to his communication skills, which are vital to the center position as the voice of the offensive line in huddles. His leadership clearly inspired his teammates at Georgia, guys - like Jalen Carter - he eagerly looks forward to facing in the NFL.
When asked to name the highlight of his Georgia career, Wilson showed what truly matters to him: “The championships are nice, the rings are nice, the relationships are even better. But the people, younger guys that came up to me and just said, 'Thank you. Thank you for teaching me things.
Thank you for taking time out of your day or your practice or your meeting to talk to me. When I was going through things, when I was getting cussed out by coaches here and there, you just pulled me off to the side, calmed me down, and brought me back down to earth.' “Even guys on the defensive side of the ball came up and thanked me.
It made me realize you can have a big impact on younger guys by leading without even thinking about it. It's something I'll never forget.”.
