Before Bill Belichick knew, earlier than the Patriots knew, maybe even earlier than Nick Saban knew, Mack Wilson says he had a sense.
Four years in the past, throughout his final collegiate season at Alabama, Wilson remembers telling his shut ones that Mac Jones, then the Crimson Tide’s scout-team quarterback, had a brilliant future. Back then, Jones sat behind future NFL starters Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa. But Wilson insists he noticed massive issues forward for the thin, 6-foot-3 backup.
“A lot of guys didn’t believe me. Even some of the guys that were on our team didn’t believe me. I just saw something in him,” Wilson stated Tuesday throughout his introductory press convention. “He’ll tell you himself — I just saw something in him that just made me be like, ‘Hey, this kid is going to be special.’”
What tipped Wilson off?
“He just had a swagger,” the linebacker continued stated. “You know a lot of guys come in as freshmen all uptight and things like that. Mac just had swagger, and that’s something that caught my eye. He made some big plays. He made some great throws. Even when he scrambled, he had a little juice in him.”
The Patriots acquired Wilson, 24, in a March commerce with the Browns, who obtained outdoors linebacker Chase Winovich in a 1-for-1 swap. He’s anticipated to finish for a beginning inside linebacker job, together with Ja’Whaun Bentley, 2021 fifth-round decide Cameron McGrone and veteran Raekwon McMillian.
Wilson sees himself as a robust slot in New England, the place he’s reunited with a number of different former Alabama teammates, together with working again Damien Harris and defensive deal with Christian Barmore.
“Ever since I set foot in the locker room,” he stated, “I got that vibe that it was a brotherhood welcoming me with open arms.”
Wilson described the tradition in Foxboro as “structured” and “old fashioned,” which he believes will assist maximize his potential following two down seasons in Cleveland. After he began 14 video games as a rookie in 2019, he matched that whole the previous two seasons whereas amassing simply 81 tackles, two cross deflections, zero sacks and no compelled fumbles. The 6-foot-1, 233-pounder already ranks among the many most athletic gamers at his place, one the crew didn’t deal with through the NFL Draft.
“Obviously, the front office and Coach Belichick seem very confident in the guys we’ve got in that room,” Wilson stated.
Perhaps they see one thing particular in him, too.
Source: www.bostonherald.com