Wilson hopes experience, physicality helps him draw comparisons to past WVU standout – WV MetroNews

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — When Anthony Wilson entered the transfer portal in the spring, he had one thing on his mind above all else.

“I want the opportunity to showcase my skills on a bigger stage,” Wilson said.

Less than three weeks later, the productive defensive back from Georgia Southern offered a commitment to West Virginia, providing an opportunity for Wilson to do just that.

Yet for Wilson, there’s more to it than that. 

In addition to joining a Big 12 team in need of help on the back end, Wilson now has the chance to play safety for the same program that produced the player he patterns his game after.

“There’s a guy that played here by the name of Karl Joseph,” Wilson says. “My favorite safety of all time and I try to emulate my game after him.”

Joseph, of course, was a standout safety with the Mountaineers from 2012-15 who was known for his toughness and a knack to dish out punishing hits. A photo of Joseph is Wilson’s lock screen on his cell phone, and the 5-foot-9, 191-pound redshirt junior is hoping to draw comparisons to the former All-Big 12 selection who has played six seasons in the NFL to this point.

“We’re almost the same size and growing up, seeing how he played the game physically and how he wanted to knock people around and make plays on the ball, that’s something I drew to and wanted to emulate in my game,” Wilson said.

While playing 2,506 defense snaps his last three seasons with the Eagles, Wilson earned either All-Sun Belt honorable mention or third-team selection each year.

A year ago, he registered 101 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, five pass breakups, one interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

That followed two strong seasons in which Wilson recorded 78 and 67 tackles.

“He produced and he was physical,” WVU safeties coach Dontae Wright said.

But there was much more to it than that, and though he’s a newcomer to the program, through Wilson’s experience and attitude, he figures to be one of the defensive leaders.

“As you all know, we don’t just go and watch a highlight tape. We’re going to watch everything. We’re going to watch the good and bad,” Wright said. “You’re never worried about effort. You could see him communicating on film. What fits us here is people that come up from smaller schools and have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. Every day he walks in this building, he has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. That doesn’t mean he’s walking around here mean-mugging people and mad. When he steps on the lines, it’s not about friends — it’s about getting better and making sure we’re all on the same page.

“I love everything about Anthony Wilson, the player, the person. He’s not what you go and draw on the board, but he’s what you want in a football player.”

Wilson says he’s currently taking most of his practice reps at free safety, though he’s also gaining some at cat safety and as a nickel back because “versatility is everything.”

Regardless of what position he’s playing, Wilson hopes to consistently maintain the aggressive mindset that enabled him to be Georgia Southern’s second-leading tackler last season and top tackler in 2021.

“It’s more of a will. Growing up, I’ve always had heart and the will to want to tackle and the will to want to be physical,” Wilson said. “That’s the most important thing is the will and want to go make the play or go make the tackle.”

Should that carry over to a step up in competition, Wilson will likely play a prominent role defensively.

As he continues adjusting to a new system and surroundings, Wilson is somewhat playing catchup despite his abundance of experience. His serious demeanor, which includes extra film study, has aided the transition over the last three months.

“Getting here in late May and trying to getting everything rolling,” Wilson said, “it’s been kind of like business to make sure I do everything I can do to help myself on the field and off the field.”