Interview: 4-Star 2022 Florida SS Kamari Wilson is a Top Enforcer on the Field
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The position labeled “safety” on the gridiron is there for good reason, and for teams to be successful they need a good one. At Fort Pierce Westwood High School, the Panthers have one of the best in the nation out of the 2022 class in Kamari Wilson.
For a last line of defense on the field, Wilson proved to be one of the fiercest in Florida during the 2019 season knocking running backs and receivers around like a wrecking ball that has no fear. The 6-1, 195-pound, defender put an end to 114 plays with two forced fumbles, five interceptions – including a pick-six, and forced countless alligator arms to appear among 6A receivers. When needed, the coaches at Westwood pulled Wilson over to the other side of the ball helping him add four touchdowns to the stat column.
Being the total package that can hit like a linebacker and cover like a free safety, the four-star recruit has stacked up 26 scholarship offers on the table thus far. Once the NCAA’s dead period is over, college football programs across the nation have piqued Wilson’s interest with a lengthy slate of potential visits on the docket.
In an RNG first-look, Wilson stepped inside the Lab for detailed coverage of his play on the field with an update on his recruiting.
Interview
Kamari, when you take the field you are a man on a mission. Before the ball is teed up for a game what gets you hyped for the mission at hand?
“What gets me hyped is my family. I just think about what I go through, and I think of my uncle that passed away – he always said he would go to my games but can’t because he passed away. All that depends on me; I want my future family to live a better life. Football is also a way to release my anger.”
I am sorry to hear about your uncle’s passing.
“Thank you.”
The safety position fits you to a “T”. Looks like you guys were running some Cover 2 and Cover 3 last season. What allows you to excel in those defensive sets so well?
“Our coach is a very smart man. We run a college style defense. I will disguise my coverage some. I will be on one hash, but I am supposed to read and play the tight end; at the snap of the ball I will be there. Our defense allows me to make plays. Sometimes I am in the box or on the boundary side guarding the slot. I’m everywhere.”
Not only do you bring the sledgehammer to the contact party but you bring it going 100 miles an hour. What is your fastest-timed run?
(Laughs) “I don’t know. I have not run a 40 in a while. I am guessing a 4.4-something.”
How did your overall game improve last season on defense?
“Last season was my first year playing DB. Playing Pop Warner before, I was at defensive end then. I did not know anything about being a DB really; I did not know how to play it. I was also playing receiver. I was going for receiver in high school and then some at safety.
“My coach, Rosco Barber, told me, “I heard you can hit. You are going to play DB.” After that, I trained with him every day. He told me it would take a year to become a DB. If you look at my freshman year highlights, I was playing off my athleticism. This year on my tape, you can see technique. I was grinding over the whole summer. Coach Barber taught me everything I know. That’s how I became who I am today.”
The coaches got you in on offense as well. How did that part of your season go?
“Oh. We had troubles scoring last season. We had a running offense but not much of a passing game. After the first game, I asked coach to put me in on offense. He gave me one chance in practice, we have the best DBs on our team. Every time he threw me the ball in practice that helped me for the game. I finally got my own chance in a game. He threw me a fade; I caught it for the touchdown. Then my coach put me in on offense the rest of the season. When we got freshman receiver Vandrevius Jacobs, that man is a baller. They didn’t need me as much.”
Since the season ended what have you been working on with your game?
“Noticing parts of my game – I am hard on myself. I have a lot I need to work on, and I want to get better every day. This offseason I am working on my technique, because in college it is all technique.”
Where all will we see you on the field in 2020?
“You’ll see me on offense, defense, and special teams. You’ll see more clips of me on offense. I am in great shape now. I am expecting 15 plays a game on offense. On defense, it will be crazy. I know the whole defense like the back of my hand; I’ll be everywhere.”
Since everything has been limited publicly, what has been your daily workout routine to stay in shape?
“Running from my house to the bridge and back, it’s about three miles, and running on sand. I have weights in my room to workout with. I do this every day. I try to run at least twice a week.”
Let’s get into recruiting. How many offers do you have now?
“Twenty-six.”
Wilson’s Offer Sheet: Auburn, Central Florida, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, LSU, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, and Virginia Tech
Which programs were the last couple to offer?
“Middle Tennessee State, Cincinnati, USF (South Florida), UCF (Central Florida), Nebraska, and LSU.”
Where is the interest coming in from with teams that have not offered yet?
“Northwestern and Clemson are showing interest but have not offered yet.”
Over the last few months before the dead period began, did you get to visit any schools?
“Yes, I went to UF (Florida) for a Junior Day.”
How did the visit to Gainesville go?
“It went great. I wasn’t ranked when I went; rankings do not matter to the coaches I talked to at Florida. They still showed interest in me. They came to my game, but to watch another player they were recruiting and end up watching me too. They know who I am. That was my first offer. They’ve been with me from the jump.”
Once things open back up, do you have any planned visits you would like to take in the coming months?
“Yes, sir. I like all the schools; I will give any school a chance. I’m not just a local guy. If the school is good and it fits me, I will check it out. Some of the schools I would like to visit are Texas A&M, Oklahoma, FSU, the U (Miami), Georgia, USC, UCF, Georgia Tech, Michigan, UAB, Arkansas, Oregon, Florida, Indiana, and Tennessee.”
Time for my virus buster question. What have you been doing for fun during your downtime this spring?
“I don’t have my PS4 (PlayStation) anymore, so I’ve been working out a lot.”
Working out will get your further in life with what you want to do than playing video games, that will work out for you. Kamari, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your workouts this spring until we talk again.
“Yes, sir. Thank you.”
Photo credit: Wilson family; Kamari Wilson at Florida