NCAT 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW MALIK WILSON: SPEED KILLS

If speed kills then North Carolina A&T’s Malik Wilson is a Black Charles Manson….in a good way of course.

Wide Reciever Malik Wilson is a baaaad man. Coming out of East Alamance High school in Burlington, North Carolina; the red shirt senior was a phenomenon on the gridiron. With ease Wilson would speed past defenders on deep routes and make the sport of football look way too easy. Malik Wilson was so dominant in high school; that in 2012 he set East Alamance’s single season touchdown receptions mark with 18 during his junior season.

Oh I forgot to mention.. Wilson also casually had 238 receiving yards against Southern Alamance that season. From there on Mr. Wilson never looked backed. With a combination of blazing speed, good hands and a high motor Malik Wilson will be the breakout star of the MEAC conference in 2018.

As a freshman when Malik Wilson first stepped onto A&T’s practice field he was filled with mixed emotions of both excitement and nervousness

“My first day stepping on the field I was a little nervous because it was a new environment for me. Of course you have a little doubt that maybe the next level isn’t for you but I then remember that God blessed you to be here for a reason.”

Fast forward to Oct. 10 2015 against Norfolk State Mr. Wilson scores his first collegiate touchdown after catching a 26 yard pass from Lamar Raynard, and the rest is history.

Yes he is lightning fast running a 4.35 40 yard dash time, but he is not just your average “speed receiver.” Malik Wilson can catch the football, and at a real high level too. Wilson has reliable hands to make the easy grab but he also has shown the ability to make the contested and difficult catches also. Watch as Malik Wilson display his speed en route to a 75 yard TD.

Wilson’s agility and knack for making the difficult catch stems from his early days of playing basketball. Basketball players translate into being productive wide receivers and tight ends, because of their jumping ability and their knowledge of how to get positioning when the ball is in the air. Wilson also has potential to be dynamite kick and punt returner if A&T puts him in that role.

And to think at one point in time Malik Wilson never considered playing college football, until his high school’s wide receiver coach saw him running on the track one day.

“Coach (Mark) Talley was like, ‘Do you play football?’ I was like, ‘Naw,’ ” Wilson said. “He was like, ‘Well, you’re going to now.’

• There’s a reason why Malik Wilson wears #88, and that’s because he’s a true playmaker... Shout out to Michael Irvin by the way… Already in his career Wilson has 3 catches for 50 yards or more.

Wilson has the ability to break tackles to rack up yardage after the catch and should start being used in the screen game to get more touches. JUST GET THIS MAN THE FOOTBALL.

Malik compares somewhat to a nuclear weapon, because when he is in the football game he is a game changer.

Malik Wilson’s favorite route to run is the post route. “It’s a touchdown every time. It’s almost [like] a cheat code. I’m too fast for most DB’s and attacking each and every corner with speed of f the line at the top of my route makes me lethal… I’m actually running a post route in that picture you used on Lamar’s post…. and that was for 6."

Behind the helmet and face mask is Malik Wilson the man; a man who never forgets where he came from.

“My main motivation is family, not wanting to let them down. I want to get my degree and excel in any endeavor that I partake in.”

It's almost like Wilson is a walking oxymoron: a humble wide receiver. Who ever would've thought huh? All jokes aside when Wilson was asked about his Quarterback Lamar Raynard Wilson he sung nothing less than praises.

“My boy Lamar is very poised and confident in his arm, he’s not afraid to take chances and the great thing about him….He knows the ins and outs he’s not just throwing the ball to the open receiver. He’s never panicking because he knows what to expect.”

Expect to hear “Raynard to Wilson for a NC A&T touchdown” a whole lot of times this upcoming year because the 2018 football season is Malik Wilson’s for the taking.