Jarrod Wilson
Name: Jarrod Wilson
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210 lbs.
High school: Akron (OH) Buchtel
Position: Safety
Class: Senior
Jersey number: #22
Last year: I ranked Wilson #7 and said he would be the starting free safety with 60 tackles and 3 interceptions. He started ten games with 50 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass breakups.
I looked upon Wilson as a difference-maker last year and suggested that he might be in line for some all-conference honors. I was a little confused about how the safeties were deployed last season, because Wilson seemed to be employed almost as a fourth linebacker rather than a deep safety. With the options at safety last year, I thought he would be the best option to roam center field. The defense wasn’t bad, but the Wolverines lacked an enforcer in the middle, and the corners opposite Jourdan Lewis had issues throughout the season. He had an 11-tackle game against Michigan State and a 9-tackle effort against Minnesota, but since he was deployed mostly in the underneath zones, he was not heavily involved in defending the pass.
I think Wilson has some versatility with his ball skills and tackling ability. The new staff has been playing him as a free safety, and he is pretty much a guarantee to start in the defensive backfield. The other safety is a bit of a question mark at this point (will it be Jabrill Peppers or Delano Hill?), but Wilson is solid back there and should be able to get the defense set up properly. With Peppers or Hill blitzing off the edge or playing on the slot receiver, Wilson should benefit from a solid blitz package and front seven on the way to making some plays up the middle of the field. Several of the Big Ten’s best safeties moved on to the NFL after last season, so I think Wilson could slide onto some all-conference teams. I have been waiting for him to break out with a good year, and this is his last hurrah in a winged helmet.
Prediction: Starting free safety; 60 tackles, 2 interceptions
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I dig this ranking.
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I really put a lot of individual struggles and or development stagnation (e.g., Countess, Stribling, Ross, Wilson) on the weird scheme change. The change benefited Clark and Beyer and made some sense, in theory, for Ryan — but it had some serious consequences in the short term and the defense took a significant step back from where it was in 2011 and 2012.
I think Wilson should be the highest ranked safety, and agree he’s head for all-conference honors if he can generate a few signature plays that make the highlight reel.
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