When Rivals250 cornerback Marco Wilson committed to Florida in late July 2016, it meant that the Wilson legacy would continue in Gainesville after his older brother Quincy spent three highly successful seasons with the Gators before turning pro and landing with the Indianapolis Colts.
However, Wilson is looking to make his own mark at Florida, and not simply follow in the footsteps of his older brother, when he arrives for the summer B session in late June.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Wilson is fresh off of a strong senior season at Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage High School. Bouncing back from a torn ACL that sidelined him throughout the 2015 campaign, Wilson finished last year with 20 tackles and three interceptions (including a pick-six) and helped lead his team to the FHSAA 5A state title. He also was named a 5A All-Broward first-team selection and made USA Today’s 2016 All-American squad.
Wilson, who is considering studying public business at UF, is one of six defensive backs from the 2017 recruiting class set to join the team in about a month.
Today, it's time to learn a little bit more about Wilson on a personal level in this edition of Getting to Know.
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I know you were looked at by a bunch of different schools, but what was the initial reason why you chose to come to Florida?
“I know they have a great education and they have a good tradition of football. It gives me an opportunity to come in and play early. … That was one of the most important things for me. I just felt really comfortable with the school. I didn’t feel like kind of awkward and weird about being there. It just felt natural, felt like it was home.”
Take us through the process that led to your commitment to Florida. What led you to stick through with it?
“The coaching staff has just always been in contact with me, made me feel like I was really welcomed and they really wanted me. Not just like running through the motions like other teams. I just was really comfortable with them, so that led to me picking the University of Florida.”
How much did Quincy and your father, Chad, help you throughout your decision-making process? Did they impact your decision at all?
“My dad didn’t really push me or anything - and my brother didn’t - because he knows how stressful the process is. He just guided me in the right direction to make sure I was making the right decisions, like basically not committing too early or committing on visits just because I feel good about the place. I made sure I took all my visits with my father and then we sat down to point out the good things and bad things and how I would actually fit in there.
“My brother, he really didn’t push to go to Florida or anything, because he wanted me to go to the best place possible for me. He just showed me how good it would be to go out there, with what he’s done on the field. And if I go there, I could do the same. But he never really pushed me or really got in my ear about Florida that much. He just kind of let me do my own thing.”
Who came in second for you and why?
“Definitely USC. Although it was really far, I had a great time on the visit. I really liked it. It’s similar to Florida, they have a great education system and they also have great tradition for what they do on the field and how they produce guys and put them in the league.”
Would there be one thing you’d change about how your recruiting process went?
“Not really, I liked the way I handled it. I didn’t make any stupid mistakes throughout the process. So, I’m fine with how I dealt with it. The one thing, I might have taken more officials – that’s it.”
What have Florida coaches expressed about your role this upcoming season?
“They just said I’ve got to come in and work. Nothing is going to be handed to anybody. You’ve got to come in and work. But if you have everything together, you come in with your mind right, you’ll be on the field.”
What would you say are your greatest strengths as a cornerback?
“I’m fast. I just have great technique. A lot of guys don’t have technique, they just play up their athleticism. But I’ve got the athleticism and the technique with it.”
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What do you really want to work on the most when you get to UF?
“Definitely just being more of a playmaker. I want to be the top guy in the game where the offense has to plan around me, because I’m disrupting everything on the field. Just making sure I go out there and make plays every drive, every game.”
In what ways would you say you’re different from Quincy as a football player?
“I’d say I’m more athletic than him. I can move better than he can, because I’m not 215, that size like him. I’d just say that, I’m more athletic than him. But other than that, we kind of play with physical aggression. I like to play like he does, just at a different speed.”
What are the main differences personality-wise between you two?
“He’s a more chill guy, like he’s relaxed. I like to do wild stuff sometimes. Like me and flipping and all that, he would never try that. He’s just like chill.”
Speaking of that, obviously your one-handed backflip catch went viral back in the day. Are there any other impressive acrobatic moves you could pull of that people haven’t seen yet?
“Definitely a lot that people haven’t seen. I do all that stuff for fun.”
Who has been the biggest role model for you in your life?
“My dad or my brother. I just see the things that they’ve accomplished in life and knowing that they’re where I want to get to in my life. It’s always pushing me to try to reach that and get there. Once I get there, I just want to surpass what they’ve done and do it better.”
Do you have a favorite professional sports team that you grew up rooting for?
“I don’t really have a team that I watched like that, but if I were to pick where I go, I’d like to go to the Rams. I like L.A., and I think it would be a nice atmosphere playing out there."
Which NFL player would you compare your talents to?
“I’d say Braxton Miller, just because he’s athletic. At the DB position, Vernon Hargreaves.”
If you could meet one person in the world, who would that be?
“Probably Tyler, the Creator.”
What is your favorite type of music and who are your favorite artists?
“Definitely rap. I like Meek Mill, Tyler, Kendrick Lamar, Future.”
Favorite movie?
“Probably The Dark Knight. I like that movie.”
Favorite TV show?
“Dragon Ball Z.”
Do you have a special talent/skill outside of football?
“I could play a little bit of piano. I just find random music sheets and I play them. I started training in high school. I took a class and I seemed to like it.”
What’s another thing Florida fans don’t know about you that they should?
“I like to draw. I like to draw cartoons and stuff like that.”
If you got drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft, what would be your first purchase?
“Definitely a car or something. I’d probably get a Panamera Porsche.”
What are three things that you have on your bucket list?
“Skydiving is definitely one. I want to go to Brazil and Dubai.”
Looking now at your upcoming freshman season, what would you say are your main expectations?
“If I don’t end up with the starting position, I just want to make sure I’m getting good playing time and getting my face out there, showing what I can do. I definitely want to grab about six or more picks and a lot of pass breakups and force some fumbles. I want to get some starts for my freshman season. And I definitely want to beat FSU and Tennessee, get Tennessee back for last year.”
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