Missouri hosts former Georgia five-star DE Damon Wilson II, Ohio State is next
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Decisions and opportunities come quickly in college football’s transfer portal, and that time doubles for the elite players. On Monday, former five-star defensive end/outside linebacker Damon Wilson II sought entry into the transfer portal, by Friday the ex-Georgia Bulldog standout had already visited Missouri with Ohio State next in line.
Utilized more as an outside linebacker while in Athens, the hybrid action stretched Wilson’s talents on the field.
“Coming in I wasn’t the best at setting the edge as an 8- or 9-tech, or even dropping in coverage; I never did that in high school (Venice, FL),” Wilson said. “Coming to Georgia, that opened me up beyond see ball and get ball. I was using my hands and my eyes, and I was playing in coverage; that is definitely one of the more important things I learned playing at Georgia. Going somewhere else, they would have had me straight rushing; I appreciate that of Georgia.”
On what he’s looking for next schematically, Wilson replied, “I want to transition back to a defensive end. I want to go attack, not reacting to the ball. I want to play in a 4-3 front; that is my kind of defense. If I want to play for the rest of my life, it will be in a 4-3.”
Ole Miss, Indiana, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado, Auburn, Alabama, Florida, and Miami have been among the teams in serious contact with Wilson. But two teams are standing out early.
“I just visited Missouri (Thursday), and I am planning on visiting Ohio State,” Wilson shared. “After that, we don’t know yet.”
Speaking about his time in Columbia, Wilson shared, “It was good. They were showing me film on Johnny Walker (Jr.); I would be replacing him. They would have me in that role; disrupt things, get in the backfield, and making plays. That seems to fit my skillset.”
Wilson added, “I love being versatile, but is that worth not using your main skill set if your skillset is not prioritized as much in the scheme? I feel they will give me a chance on first and second down, I wasn’t getting those looks.”
*Georgia was utilizing Wilson as a Jack linebacker on first and second downs and then moving him to end on third down plays.
Wilson continued, “They (Missouri) did a really good job selling their program. I really like coach (Larry) Johnson, I want to give Ohio State a shot. Ohio State is still playing right now; I know they are focused on that. Coach Johnson and I have always had a good relationship.”
After the Buckeyes take care of business on the field at AT&T Stadium in Arlington against the Texas Longhorns, Wilson plans to visit.
One of the viewers of tonight’s Cotton Bowl Classic Semifinal will be Wilson.
“I know they are a four-down front,” Wilson stated. “I will be watching how they are using their hands, how they play on the edge, a 6- or 9-tech, and how they rotate; that is what I will be looking at tonight.”
Once the trip to Columbus is completed, stops at South Carolina and Miami are possible. The one drawback for the Hurricanes, they do not have a defensive coordinator after parting ways with Lance Guidry on Dec. 31.
A decision by Wilson could come by the middle of next week.
Photo credit: Wilson family; Damon Wilson workout.