Goodbye, Jarrod Wilson

Jarrod Wilson (#22, image via MGoBlue)

HIGH SCHOOL
Wilson attended Akron (OH) Buchtel where he was coached by former Michigan running back Ricky Powers. I initially gave him a TTB Rating of 89 (LINK), although that was downgraded slightly to an 88 by the end of the 2012 recruiting cycle (LINK). He was a 247 Composite 4-star, the #13 safety, and #236 overall.

COLLEGE
Wilson was a backup to the duo of Thomas Gordon and Jordan Kovacs as a true freshman, but he still played in thirteen games and made 8 tackles with 1 fumble recovery. He was an eight-game starter and made 50 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 INTs, and 2 PBUs. After Gordon graduated, Wilson became a starter at safety and responded with 50 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Ff, and 2 PBUs in ten games. Once again a full-time starter in 2015, he finished his career with 61 tackles, 1 sack, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass breakups.

Hit the jump for more on Wilson’s career.

STATS
169 tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 INTs, 1 FF, 1 FR, 7 PBUs

AWARDS
Academic All-Big Ten (2012)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2015)

SUMMARY
I was fond of Wilson as a recruit coming out of high school, and I expected him to become the type of free safety that Michigan has lacked in recent years: the guy who could roam the deep middle of the field effectively. He hit some rough patches as a true freshman in 2012, and my confidence wavered a bit, but it’s important to remember that playing safety as a freshman is not an easy task. Experience is important, and he didn’t have the advantage of being able to redshirt. He did become a solid, reliable starter and a good tackler his next three seasons. Listed at 6’2″, 210 lbs. as a senior, he was almost an outside linebacker, but he had enough speed not to be beaten deep when opponents tested him. In no way was he a flashy paper, but he got the job done.

I WILL REMEMBER HIM FOR…
…being very excited about his recruitment. He committed to Michigan in July of 2011, and at that time, we were still recovering from the years of Rich Rodriguez’s poor defensive back recruiting. He didn’t quite live up to my expectations from when he committed, but I still felt very comfortable with him playing safety as a junior and senior at Michigan.

PROJECTION
Wilson lacked high-level productivity in college, didn’t make a ton of flashy plays, and wasn’t all-conference. The NFL didn’t invite him to the Combine. But he was fairly productive and avoided allowing big plays. He also turned in some pretty good measurements at Michigan’s pro day: 6’1 1/4″, 209 lbs., a 4.55 forty, and a 36″ vertical (LINK). I doubt he gets drafted, but he will probably get signed as a free agent and should make a practice squad somewhere.

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