Quintin Wilson Prepared to Take on Center Position
For the past few seasons, Quintin Wilson has gotten some very good on-the-job training. Watching and learning from Kentucky center Drake Jackson has prepared Wilson for the opportunity that now awaits him.
Wilson is projected to be the starting center for this year’s UK football team and he believes that he is ready for the task of maintaining the strong center play that Kentucky has had with Jackson, and Jon Toth prior to him.
“I don’t take it too much as pressure,” Wilson said. “It’s kind of the expectation that was set not only at center but at every position. Those guys that came before me really set the example and I’ve got a chance to learn a lot from Drake over the past couple of years. It’s really helped me. Every once in a while, when I’m struggling with something, I can reach out to him and he’ll help me out. I just want to keep up the expectation that everyone has around here for good center play.”
New UK offensive coordinator Liam Coen knows that his offense demands a lot from the center position.
“The centers, there’s so much on these guys’ plates,” Coen said. “And it’s kind of been that way with Drake over the years. These guys have seen him do his thing over the last couple of years and they’re trying to take over those reigns which is what we’re looking for. We want somebody to take it over and do it as he did. It’s a lot different for these guys coming in and trying to take it over, make all of the run calls, making all the pass protection calls in a new system. And going against a defense that creates some issues for you. So it’s hard on all of those guys.”
Coen particularly likes what Wilson has brought to spring practice so far.
“Q is a smart kid, really happy about him,” Coen said. “Moving forward, getting him rolling, confidence and kind of rolling with this thing.”
Likewise, Wilson is excited about Coen and what he has brought to the team during the spring.
“When it comes to Coach Coen, you can feel the energy he brings to the building every day,” Wilson said. “He’s just as excited as we are. You hit a big play in practice, he’s jumping, celebrating with everybody else, just like we are.”
Wilson said that there was some growing to do early on but that he’s feeling more comfortable in the new offense now.
“I think it’s been going well. There’s ups and downs with it all because it’s a lot of new stuff,” Wilson said. “For me, in particular, it’s just a good way to test where you’re at and what you do well and what you can grow at. I think overall, it’s going to be a really good growing experience for me as well as the rest of the offensive line.”
Wilson earned his undergraduate degree in just two and a half years. He thinks his ability to learn quickly can help him on the field as well.
“When it comes to football, any time you can take on information and try to transfer that and learn a lot of new offenses and new schemes, it helps,” Wilson said.
Wilson is prepared to be the man in the middle for the Cats this season and is prepared to be the next in a long line of outstanding centers at UK.
