Wilson steals show at pro day
GAINESVILLE — Cornerback Marco Wilson arrived to Florida’s Pro Day all but forgotten.
Oh sure, some plays near the end of Wilson’s college career will live in infamy for many Gators fans who won’t forgive one of the most costly penalties in program history. The 22-year-old has the malicious direct messages and social media screeds directed at him to prove it.
But Wednesday was about the future.
Representatives from 31 of 32 NFL teams came primarily to watch Wilson’s high-profile former teammates — namely Kyle Pitts, Kyle Trask and Kadarius Toney — strut their stuff and state their cases four weeks prior to the April 29-May 1 draft.
Many of the intelligentsia on hand left Florida’s indoor practice facility aware Wilson might have a bright future himself at the professional level.
Wilson put on a show the 58 NFL decision-makers on hand could not ignore.
The Fort Lauderdale native said he never doubted he was capable. But Wilson surprised even himself by rising to the occasion as he did while alleviating questions about the quality of his play and his character.
“I’m just proud of putting everything together,” Wilson said. “I knew I was going to excel in every drill. I did all these numbers in training, so I wasn’t surprised at all. I just have to make sure that I can hit all these numbers in one day.”
Wilson’s day began with a vertical leap reaching the measuring device’s maximum height of 43 ½ inches.
Next, Wilson performed 26 repetitions with 225 pounds on the bench press. Just before the 5-foot-11½, 191-pound Wilson’s lift, former American Heritage teammate T.J. Slaton, a 6-foot4, 330-pound defensive tackle, managed 27 reps.
“Felt like everything, he just killed, it” Slaton said. “He’s just a natural-born athlete.”
To wit, Wilson also recorded an 11-foot, 4-inch broad jump, matching Toney’s eye-popping effort.
Gators coach Dan Mullen soon posted on his Instagram account Wilson ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.34 seconds.
“It was awesome,” Mullen said. “Marco’s a guy that always has a great work ethic and acts like a professional in what he does. He prepared for this moment and he prepared the right way and was ready to go in that moment.
“He got to come out and turn some heads.”
At times last season, Wilson left Florida fans to look away, whether in frustration, disgust or embarrassment for a three-year starter whose skills mysteriously eroded.
During the Gators’ narrow loss at Texas A&M, Wilson was manhandled by 6-foot5, 200-pound sophomore Caleb Chapman. Chapman entered the game with six career catches but totaled nine for 151 yards and two touchdowns — both against Wilson.
All season, Wilson rarely flashed the form he’d displayed as a rare bright spot for the four-win 2017 Gators or that led him to weigh his NFL options after his redshirt sophomore year in 2019.
Amid a 2020 campaign spent navigating COVID-19 and ignoring outside criticism, Wilson wondered whether he had made the right decision to return.
“I thought about my decision coming back some time during the season,” he said Wednesday. “But I try not to sit there and just have any regrets in my life. I live my life with no regrets.”
The philosophy helped Wilson weather the low point of his Florida career, a crushing 15-yard unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty during the final moments of the Gators’ stunning 37-34 loss to LSU. Wilson inexplicably tossed the shoe of an LSU player 25 yards down field following a third-down tackle, drawing a yellow flag.
Wilson said the head-scratching decision was bred of emotion, not malice.
“I was excited and just made an unfortunate mistake,” he said. “That’s how that is. I wished it never happened, but things happen. Everything’s not going to go your way.”
On Wednesday, everything pretty much went Wilson’s way, though he believes he could have run the 40 a little bit faster.
“Kind of tripped on my first 40,” he said. “But that’s still a great time. I’ll take that.”
Wilson will continue forward with his training and the draft process. He will have to wait weeks to find out whether there are any NFL takers.
Character concerns can haunt a player. Wilson’s infamous shoe toss could mar his Florida career.
Wilson believes Wednesday’s performance showcased not just his athletic skills but his mettle. The hours after the LSU loss — during Wilson’s final game in the Swamp, no less — tested his resolve and ultimately offered some difficult life lessons.
“I just really learned how a silly mistake could affect me,” he said. “I mean, I was getting just disgusting messages in my Instagram. Just seeing how quick people can turn on you and how negative they can really be in a tough situation. I also learned that the brothers I had on this team they’re really here for me.
“I just learned especially early your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you don’t have mental health, you’re not going to be able to just accomplish the things you want to accomplish.”
If Florida’s Pro Day is any indication, Wilson is sound of mind and ready for whatever comes his way. All he wants is a chance, something he likely solidified Wednesday.“