Transfer fits mold with Pitt
Former Hampton University OT says he’ll need only one season to prove his value to Panthers, get attention from NFL scouts
Keldrick Wilson, Pitt’s new graduate transfer offensive tackle, first thought about entering the portal last offseason.
Once an overlooked recruit, Wilson was caught in a similar situation at
Hampton University. After logging 10 appearances and two starts the previous season, he didn’t play in 2018 as a redshirt sophomore. The
Pirates’ new head coach, former East Carolina defensive line coach Robert Prunty, brought in a blocker from his old school to start in Wilson’s place.
Admittedly, Wilson was a little annoyed. “I knew I needed to show scouts I could do something. So I said to my dad, ‘We’re going to work out, we’re going to dominate, and we’re going to leave,’ ” Wilson told the Pittsburgh PostGazette. “That was the mindset.”
Wilson, after starting 11 games and blocking for the Big South Conference’s second-leading rusher in 2019, stayed true to his word. He graduated from Hampton and picked Pitt over offers
On the Panthers JOHN MCGONIGAL
from Southern California, West Virginia and Indiana earlier this month. Wilson officially signed with the Panthers March 12 and is enrolled in summer classes, taking the necessary steps as he clings to a dream of one day being drafted into the NFL.
Before he gets there, though, Wilson has to earn his spot up front with the Panthers. There’s a clear opening at right tackle on an otherwise cemented offensive line. In 2020, Jimmy Morrissey will man the middle, flanked by Bryce Hargrove at left guard and Jake Kradel or Gabe Houy at right guard. Carter Warren is expected to hold down the left tackle role he grew into last season opposite Nolan Ulizio.
Ulizio will not be back after using his last remaining year of eligibility in 2019. The Michigan grad transfer struggled more than he flourished, but he perpetuated a precedent that intrigued Wilson — a trend he was sold on by Pitt’s coaches.
Wilson is Pitt’s fourth grad transfer tackle added in as many years. In 2017, Brandon Hodges transferred from Texas and started in three of eight games played. The following year, former Kent State lineman Stefano Millin started all 14 games protecting Kenny Pickett’s blindside. In 2019, Ulizio got the starting nod on the right side in all 13 contests. Wilson hopes to be the next in line.
“I didn’t leave Hampton not to play,” Wilson said, acknowledging he’ll face competition from Houy, Carson Van Lynn and others on the right side. “I’m going to come in and play as hard as I can.”
Pitt’s news release stated that Wilson has one year of eligibility remaining to make his mark despite the slim chance for a second year with Pitt (and sixth overall). Wilson told 247 Sports in February that applying for a second year could be on the table because he already burned his redshirt in 2016 and didn’t play in 2018 after Hampton’s coaching change. When asked about his eligibility, Wilson told the Post-Gazette he’s not sure about a second season with Pitt, adding: “All I need is one.”
At the very least, that’s one more year at the Power Five conference level than what seemed possible five years ago. Wilson didn’t have a Football Bowl Subdivision offer, let alone a Power Five invitation, coming out of West Rowan High School in North Carolina.
Wilson’s recruitment was light for apparent reasons. He didn’t play football as a sophomore in high school after transferring schools and focusing on basketball. Wilson thought basketball was his “calling” at the time while hooping at Salisbury High School and playing on former Tar Heels star Raymond Felton’s AAU team. But, as he kept adding weight and failing to grow taller than 6 feet 5, Wilson switched back to football and returned to West Rowan.
There, head coach Joe Nixon helped transform him into an FBS prospect.
Nixon was hired after Wilson’s junior year, in which the now-Panther contributed as a 240-pound tight end. Nixon thought the budding blocker could be a “special player” on the offensive line if he bulked up. Wilson bought in, adding 20 to 25 pounds and eventually anchoring West Rowan’s line in 2015.
The Falcons went 10-4 that season thanks at least in part to Wilson’s senior season renaissance. But, on the recruiting front, it was too late to garner any real FBS traction.
“If he grew into his body as a sophomore or as a junior, he’d have a ton of Power Five offers out of high school,” Nixon said. “I could see potential in him.”
FBS coaches didn’t at the time, though. East Carolina had interest in Wilson, but only if a lineman the Pirates prioritized didn’t sign with them. He did, and that was that.
“I felt like I was a Power Five kid. But because I only played tackle one year, a lot of schools didn’t want to give me the opportunity because I was raw on film,” Wilson added. “They didn’t really want to take the chance, I guess. … It was really frustrating.”
Wilson collected a dozen FCS offers, narrowing his choices to Hampton, South Carolina State and Mercer. He considered the junior-college route briefly, thinking he might get an FBS offer quicker that way. But he’s glad he didn’t after seeing everything work out the way it did.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Wilson has never met Pat Narduzzi or the coaching staff in person and couldn’t visit Pitt. But he felt it was the “best place” for him given a strong bond formed with offensive line coach Dave Borbely and the opportunity in front of him — a Power Five opportunity he has coveted for five years.
“My journey’s been based on hard work and dedication,” Wilson said. “My dream has always been to get drafted. That’s a personal goal that I’m hoping to get. I’ve always wanted to be in the NFL. And despite the obstacles I’ve had to overcome, I’ve managed to fight.”