Playing under the Friday night lights was an opportunity Devin Wilson relished for four years at The Dalles High School.
His play, his leadership, growth and maturity have paved the way for the Riverhawk senior to play college football on Saturdays.
Wilson has signed on to play at George Fox University where he will play safety and linebacker for the Division III program under head coach Chris Casey.
“It was an honor to play here in The Dalles. I was proud to wear this uniform,” Wilson said. “Because of the support and coaching and my teammates, I am able to play football at the next level. I am so excited to have this chance. I am going there to work my butt off and try my best to make The Dalles, my family and friends proud.”
While going through the recruiting process, there were several schools showing interest in Wilson, but when George Fox came in, they provided a good glimpse to the future, while also preaching a family vibe.
Wilson knew then this newer program, located in Newberg was the right fit for him to continue his football career.
In addition, Wilson, who had a 3.0 grade point average, said he intends to major in criminal justice, but has plans to teach and coach down the road.
“Being here has definitely prepared me for life,” Wilson said. “We didn’t have the most success in football, so it taught me about dedication and sacrifice and wanting to show leadership by coming back wanting to better myself as a person and a player. That’s why I want to be a coach, because everything I have learned in life so far, I have learned by playing sports and being on a team. You can’t get that anywhere else.”
He has learned so much from his father Rick Wilson, defensive coordinator Rich Belanger and head coach Steve Sugg and several others in four years wearing the Crimson and Gold colors.
He has played at every level of a defense, from line to linebacker and secondary positions, so he has been able to soak in all of the intricacies of a defensive scheme to help him as he gets set to play in the college ranks.
“We put a lot on Devin as a player, but he always responded with a high level of play. He has a motor and is relentless on the football field,” Sugg said. “Because of his work ethic and his instincts and playmaking ability, I think he will be a very successful player at George Fox. I am excited to see a kid from The Dalles get this opportunity. It is not only great for our program, but for our community. He is being rewarded for his hard work.”
Wilson is coming off back-to-back first-team all-league selections on both sides of the ball.
This past year, the 6-foot, 200-pound senior rushed the ball 82 times for 442 yards and four touchdowns in eight contests.
Through the air, he hauled in 38 catches for 483 yards and three scores, adding a long of 65 yards.
Defensively, Wilson logged a team-high 50 tackles, eight for loss, had two sacks, an interception and four passes defended.
On the defensive side of the ball, Wilson gained league honors at defensive end as a sophomore, linebacker his junior year and at safety this past season.
He was a team captain, and was voted Most Improved Player, as Defensive Player of the Year twice and Most Valuable Player in his final two seasons.
Although the moment is bittersweet in a way, Wilson’s mother, Angie, said it seems like yesterday young Devin was a small child making his way through life.
Now he is jumping into the adult world, a student-athlete.
She knows the middle child of her three will do well.
“He is going off to college a man,” Angie said. “Athletics teaches us a lot about ourselves and, in a way, helps in the decision-making process and how to overcome obstacles. Just like football, and other sports, how you handle adversity makes you a better person. I know Devin will go out there and continue to be great. I am so proud of him.”
As a former college student-athlete, Devin’s father, Rick, expressed the importance of the balance between a social life, academics, workouts, practices, and everything else that occurs on a daily basis.
It is not easy by any stretch, but Wilson stressed that school comes before all else.
“I know he realizes how important his education is, first and foremost,” Rick said. “You are in college to get a degree and further your education. Sports is just a part of it. It is a privilege earned to play sports and I know he is going to go out there and succeed and do well. He has always shown that this is his lifelong goal. I am very happy to see him get this chance to keep playing a game that he loves.”
As a big fish in a small pond, Devin now vaults into a college game where everyone is just as fast, just as a strong and just as smart on the gridiron.
Sugg talked about Devin taking the extra repetitions, spending more time in the film room and weight room, and doing everything he can to set himself apart from the crowd.
His lasting words came down to establishing a willingness to endure, as he feels success will not happen overnight, especially as the level of competition is raised a few notches.
“I think one of the biggest things for Devin is being patient,” Sugg said. “How much he will play is unknown right now, but every day, the practices will get much harder and the games are going to get much tougher. There are no weak players out there. Some of the things he used to do in high school, he may not be able to do in college right away because the level of play is that much more improved. It will be a totally different ball game, so how he adjusts will be critical. I have faith though, that he will put in the work to do well out there.”
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