Interview with Cal OLB/WR Class of 2016 commitment Markus Wright

Written by Ryan Wright

College football fans that follow University of California Berkeley football are already in the know, but the rest of the nation perhaps has not quite caught on yet. There is a movement taking place in northern California on the Golden Bears football team. The architect behind the movement is head coach Sonny Dykes.

In 2013 the Golden Bears won just one game. In 2014 Cal jumped up to a 5-win season. On paper five wins may not seem like much but it very easily could have been an eight or nine-win campaign. The third game of the season Cal lost on a Hail Mary to Arizona 49-45. Game 6 was a two-point 36-34 home loss to UCLA. Game 9 was a slug fest against USC in Los Angeles that went down to the wire before falling 38-30. The last potential season swinging effort was Game 12, a 42-35 loss to BYU.

Cal will be a team to reckon with for years to come not only thanks to the hard work the coaching staff is putting in on the field but also due to the efforts on the recruiting trail.

Stanford, deservedly so, is mentioned time and time again for hauling in top notch student athletes. After having interviewed enough Cal recruits over the past two seasons the same can now be said for the quality of players being brought onto the Berkeley campus and current commit Markus Wright is another model mold added to the impressive lot.

The 6’2”, 215 pound, Georgia two-way star was a beast for Jordan in 2014. Lining up at outside linebacker, middle linebacker, and even at safety he came up with 95 total tackles, 70 solo, 7.0 sacks, and led the team with 13.5 tackles for a loss. On offense he lined up on the outside and in the slot coming up with 23 receptions for 346 yards with five touchdowns.

The Red Jackets utilized Markus on the strong-side of the defense forcing the plays the other way but routinely chased down plays from behind, never giving up on any given snap of the ball. On offense he was selfless giving up his body on crack-back blocks on linebackers freeing up his teammates.

Perhaps equally as impressive, Markus carries a cumulative 3.6 GPA and has already qualified for college getting a 22 on his first try taking the ACT. He finished his junior academic year with all A’s.

Jordan had a tough season in 2014 filling in positions across the field with underclassmen leading to a 3-7 season. The tough outings did not stop college coaches from swinging by Columbus to check Mr. Wright out. To date Markus has 10 offers with schools like Alcorn State, Army, Navy, Air Force, Mercer, South Alabama, Alabama A&M, and Florida A&M seeing the budding talent.

On June 22 Cal landed the unheralded talent. The fight for Markus to remain a Cal Gang member may not be without competition with teams like Kentucky, Louisville, Georgia, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, and Arizona all showing interest.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview I sat down with Markus to go over his offseason workouts, get his thoughts on the Red Jackets 2015 season, and received an update on his recruitment that includes why he committed to Cal early in the recruiting process.

 

Markus, talking about the previous year is not always easy coming off a difficult season. Playing sports teaches us many life lessons in winning and losing. Instead of talking about what went wrong last season, if you don’t mind, tell me what you learned from the tough year last season?

“I learned the art of perseverance. The big issue we had was on offensive and defensive line because we had all freshman and sophomores which made the skill players in our secondary and on offense step up even more. It really taught me to be more of a leader and not be like some other individuals discouraging teammates. Instead I learned to help them up and encourage them to be better, which we will be this season and I believe it has paid off.  Perseverance and leadership, I learned a lot.”

You just mentioned the Red Jackets will be better this year. A lot of times when teams take their lumps in one year the following year is a breakout year when all of that young experience has a chance to put it together. How does the team look heading into the 2015 season?

“Amazing. I know our offensive line and defensive line are leaps and bounds better than last year. I know they will not fear the Friday Night Lights like some of them did as freshman and sophomores when they were like “oh my, this is my first time.” We have an amazing secondary. We are working well putting in a lot of new material on offense. Our quarterback is a beast. He’s 6’2”, 235, and a converted running back. He’s a freak. He looks good. I’m very excited.”

Have you had a chance to look over the schedule for this season yet, and if so is there a game circled that you are excited to play?

“Oh yeah, definitely. The first game of the season is against Columbus High School. It is the oldest rivalry game in Columbus. One of my best friends Essang Bassey (cornerback) committed to Wake Forest on the same day I committed. We had that planned out. It’ll be a head-to-head battle. We both have pretty good squads coming in. I’m excited. It’ll be one of the funnest games of the year. It’s the first game in the entire state.”

You did a lot for your team last year as a two-way player. Is there a chance your role will increase even more in 2015?

“You see on defense last year I had 95 tackles. I feel like this year will be toned in, especially for our linebackers. My goal is to get 110 tackles this year and 10 sacks. And then on offense we had a lot of kids transfer in. We have this one transfer, a guy from Florida, and kids from other districts.

“I feel like I don’t know if I’ll get as much attention on offense this year. I know from our 7×7 team playing against our local teams, I was receiving double and triple teams. I’d have two linebackers on me and a strong safety but that opens up offense for everyone else. I’m happy about it. I might not get as much shine on offense but it’ll turn out better in the long run. You can’t be selfish and expect to win.”

Focusing in on linebacker, what makes you a great linebacker?

“I wouldn’t say I’m great yet. I still have a long way to go. But what makes me the linebacker I am today? The inability to give up. If I miss coverage or a tackle I’m not going to give up. I’ll go back the next play and try harder. I feel like I encourage my teammates well. When you watch my film you’ll see me jumping around, yelling, and having fun making sure I enjoy the game. That’s what it is really about. I think that’s what makes good players great. You have to enjoy the game to be great at the game.”

Did you earn any individual honors at the end of last year and if so which honors did you earn?

“Yes, I was First-Team All-Bi-City, First-Team All-Region, I was MVP of our season, and I was voted as the defensive honorary captain for this year as well.”

What are you doing in the offseason to prepare for you senior year? What kind of workouts are you doing?

“As a team we go in early in the morning at 8 o’clock and hit the weight room hard. Then we hit the field doing drills and putting in new material. We condition hard everyday. Way harder than last year. We have a lot of guys that are in great shape now. Individually outside of our workouts, I wake up every morning and before I go to our team workouts I do push up and sit up circuit. Then when I come home I do another push up and sit up circuit and then we have a dead week coming up. Everyday when I don’t have a team workout you can catch me on the field running sprints by myself or running laps around the field. I’ll also get some footwork in.”

What was the weight that you played at last year?

“I was at like 200 flat. I wanted to gain 15 pounds before the season so I got a strict diet plan and a big weight plan. I’ve already gained 15 pounds and I’m at my goal.”

What is your bench press and squat max?

“Of course, my squat max is at like 495 and my bench press is at 265.”

What is the best 40-yard dash you’ve been clocked at so far?

“I ran a 40 last week and I ran a 4.66. My best 40 that I ran at a camp was a 4.7. I ran a 4.19 shuttle at Rivals, and for linebackers it’s all about the lateral movement.”

I see that you have 10 scholarship offers right now. Correct me if I’m wrong but I have the offers for you from Cal, Alcorn State, Army, Navy, Air Force, Kennesaw State, Mercer, South Alabama, Alabama A&M, and Florida A&M.

“That’s it.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now that have not offered you yet?

“Charlotte, Georgia State, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Wake Forest, Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Arizona, UCLA, USC showed a little bit of love since I got my Cal offer, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Charleston Southern, and Jacksonville State.”

What about Georgia Tech?

“My principal is really close to their guy that recruits this year but I have not received any feedback from them.”

What influenced you to commit to Cal when you did?

“Well I got the Cal offer and it meant a lot to me. Coach (Garret) Chachere (linebackers coach) came down here and offered me in person. He came all the way from California – it meant a lot because it felt good. When we started talking it was like he knew me for all 17 years of my life.

“I did my research, my family and I did our research, and it’s the No. 1 public institution in the nation. With a degree from Cal, when football ends you can do almost anything in the world. Also, we have our little group chat on Twitter. The power of the group chat, don’t ever forget the power of the group chat. We have all the commits and some of the commits that are looking to commit soon on there. I’m not going to put any names out there but we have a few more coming.

“They all gave me a lot of insight on the school out there because I have not been out there to visit yet. They made me feel like I was already part of the family before I even committed. I really loved the vibe that I got. Coach (Sonny) Dykes is a great guy and I just loved it.”

When you committed what was the reaction of Coach Chachere and the Cal coaches?

“They were overjoyed. They were really excited. I talked to Coach Dykes on Wednesday and he was so excited and everything. Everyone is happy for me and ready for me to join the family. They feel like I can play a big role in the defense and they were overjoyed.”

How did you feel at that moment when you verbally committed?

“I’m not going to lie. My mom and I were talking about it before we called, I didn’t know if I should I wait to do this. I was nervous and everything. I called him and told him. Honestly it felt like all the weight on my shoulders had just dropped off. I was happy. I was happy because over the past few weeks I was stressing about it. I just want to make the best decision for myself so I can have the right foundation for my future. When I finally made that decision I was really relived.”

Cal has recruited you as a defensive player. What position do they plan to put you at once on campus? Will you be on the strong-side or the weak-side? Will they bulk you up and put you in the middle?

“We did. He spoke about putting me at outside linebacker. He said it also depends on how I take the weight training and all the weight that I put on. If I gain weight but lose speed they’ll put me in the middle. He hasn’t told me this directly but I feel if I keep my same size and pickup my speed I could play strong safety. I play strong safety here at my school as well. I honestly like strong safety. I like it a lot.”

Are you going to start helping with recruiting efforts trying to land guys in Berkeley?

“Of course, who wouldn’t want to go to Cal! The first guy that I targeted was Kiel Pollard from Colquitt County. He was just out in California for a visit. He’s an insider receiver and a Georgia boy. He’s just right up the street. I can give him an insight on why I committed and everything and get him out there. We have to get him out there and give him the influence for the Cal Gang.”

Did you or will you go to any one-day college camps this summer?

“Actually I have not. Honestly, throughout the recruiting process I was getting frustrated with everything. We’ve had like 30 to 40 coaches come down to talk to me over the last two seasons. Some of them would say I want you to come to camp and some would offer.

“In my head I started thinking, “Wow, what am I not doing right?” Basically I was really just frustrated with the process. I was going to go to some camps but then I really just wanted to focus on my team. I want to be a team leader. I have not missed a workout. I’ve been out there with the boys everyday putting in extra time. I have not been to one so far. I just wanted to sit back and enjoy the process.”

I know you have taken an unofficial visit to Georgia State, have you taken any other unofficial visits?

“I took one to Army and I took one to South Alabama for their Junior Day. I took a visit to Georgia State for their Junior Day and a visit to Kennesaw State.”

When the season rolls around do you plan on taking official visits to schools other than Cal?

“Of course. In the group chat we have it planned on going to the USC game. That’s one. Whatever offers I get and the other ones that I have, I’ll go back up there and see. Why not?”

Have the Cal coaches encouraged or discouraged you from taking official visits to other schools?

“They haven’t pressured me on anything. Honestly, they are very open and laid back guys. They’ve but no pressure on me at all. It’s been one of the best recruiting experiences that I’ve had. No pressure.”

Besides football do you play any other sports for Jordan?

“I used to play soccer, basketball, and I ran track and I threw in some of the field events. This year I said I was going to sit that off to the side so I could focus on gaining weight for football. I knew football is what I wanted to do in college so I gave it all up so I could focus on my football career. I played almost every sport and played baseball when I was younger. I’ve done a little bit of everything, boxing, karate, and all that stuff.”

What do you want to major in when you go to college?

“Originally I wanted to do orthopedic surgery but I like to have options. I started looking into psychology and sociology. The University of California Berkeley has a really good business school. I’d also like to do sports management or something like that. I think it’s going to depend when I get there and the feel I get for everything once I am there.”

Who has made the biggest impact on your football career?

“Definitely my mom (Tanema). She’s my best friend. I love her to death. She’s never missed one of my football games. She’s the only person I can hear in the stands. She has the loudest scream. Definitely my mom.

“It’s going to be tough. That was the only problem we had before I committed. If Cal was right where Auburn is we’d be great. I think it will be tough for her me being across the country. I talk to her about everything. We laugh together and we cry together. We have one of those bonds that is one in a million.”

What is your favorite part of playing football?

“My favorite part about playing football… wow. It is a way for me to express myself. I can go on the field and be myself. It allows me to push myself and I love competing. I’m a big competitor. I love winning. I try to be the best I can on and off the field. Football is just an outlet for me. If I’m having a good day or a bad day I can go out there and yell, play, and be with my boys.”

Photo credit: Jordan HS; No. 9 Markus Wright

Photo credit: University of Cal; Cal Gang welcomes Markus Wright