Random Thoughts from a Recruiting Mind: Quincy Wilson

quincy-actionBy: Chad Wilson – Editor – GridironStuds Blog
Twitter: @GridironStuds

It has been about a week since Quincy Wilson committed to the University of Florida and many are wondering what are my thoughts on a wide range of topics surrounding his commitment.  I will address some of those here.  First am I proud of him,  absolutely.  The goal for Quincy was to receive a scholarship to play football, the game he loves and he has accomplished that.  The level of success he has achieved while pursuing this goal has allowed him to set new goals above and beyond the scholarship.

The two biggest questions surrounding Quincy Wilson during his recruitment have been what position will he play in college and what happened with the University of Miami.  Regarding his position, despite what many fans may think, Wilson was recruited as a cornerback by a majority of the schools that offered him.  In fact, I can’t think of one school on his offer list of 50 that said they want him to play safety.  While many may say that this was just coaches telling a recruit what he wants to hear,  I will say that they would have to be some of the World’s greatest liars to slide some b.s. past me.  I was born in Brooklyn.  I spent my early years watching bricks in a box being sold as a VCR.  Second, I am not some average parent,  I played this game and I coach it.  Would be kind of difficult to b.s. me and Quincy as well in this regard.  The teams that Quincy and I had serious discussions with about attending all gave at length and detailed discussions about their philosophy on defense and in the secondary.  Whether people realize it or not,  the cornerback position is one that is getting bigger.  Defenses are tired of being overwhelmed by bigger, taller and more physical wide receivers.  At some point,  you knew defenses would do something to counteract that and that time is now.  In the future, cornerbacks are going to more resemble Xavier Rhodes than they will Tyrann Mathieu.  Perhaps Quincy keeps growing into a 6’3″ 240 lb. athlete and ends up moving his position but I doubt it.

Regarding Miami.  I won’t talk much about this because I think it’s rather disingenuous to continue talking about Miami when Florida is the school he has committed to.  At the end of the day, Miami did not offer Quincy at any position: cornerback, safety, linebacker, etc.  I am sure they have their reasons and I am ok with that.  For those wondering, we had no discussions whatsoever with Al Golden about an offer or a position he could, should or would be offered at. He was no shoe in to go to Miami had they offered.  He was going to explore all of his options anyway because as a parent,  I feel that is the proper way to make a decision.  Miami was the best choice for me in 1992.  It’s 2013 and he is his own man.  I am not bitter about his lack of an offer from the University of Miami.  Would it be nice to have them in consideration, absolutely but 70 division I schools did not offer him.  We were both overwhelmed and elated by the 50 who did and that was the focus during the process.  Miami fans continued to make the Hurricanes lack of an offer an issue and still do to this day.  This is what fans do and I appreciate fans.  I loved them when I ran out of the smoke and can still appreciate their passion today.  Some may ask why I allowed him to rip Miami when approached by fans on Twitter.  I say let him speak his mind.  I am confident that he knows the limits.  If fans want to bring it,  I say he can give it back, he has a witty mind and a flare for comebacks (wonder where he got that from?).  His limits are not what fans think they should be and not really yours to choose.  Your opinion is your opinion.  My wife and I raised him, not the fans.  Our family is pleased with his decision to join the Gators.  It’s a chance for him to earn a free education and have an opportunity to play for a great program in one of the toughest conferences in the country.  As a parent,  what more can you ask for.

I hope that puts to rest these issues but I’m guessing it won’t.  At some point fans will move on but I’m guess it’s not any time soon

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