Texas Southern quarterback Jace Wilson is used to adjusting and then proving himself all over again.
It’s really the story of his college career.
Wilson is back in the cycle again as the Tigers’ incumbent, but with a new coaching staff and a slate of newcomers to compete with. That has put the reigning SWAC Newcomer of the Year in the position of having to earn it again in fall camp for new coach Cris Dishman and his staff.
“This is the exact same spot I was in at Furman going into my second year,” said Wilson, who transferred to TSU last year after playing for Furman his freshman year. “Got a new OC and they were bringing in their type of guys that they like. I’ve seen it before.
“I’m not scared of competition or anything like that. They’ve still got to learn the offense. Just like the coaches are learning us, we are learning them, as well.
Wilson is entering his second year at TSU on the heels of an impressive sophomore season. The 5-foot-11 junior was pressed into duty not long after arriving on campus when star quarterback Andrew Body couldn’t go after Game 1 last season.
His first start at Toledo was a rough one, but as the season went on, Wilson began showing signs of growing into the job and being the leader the offense needed.
“It was definitely different,” said Wilson, a former standout at Mayde Creek. “I think they literally told me the morning of the Toledo game that I was going to be playing. That whole week I didn’t get any reps with the ones, so ….
“Last year, it was cool. My dad is a TSU alumni and he actually coached here on one of the staff before. I’m not new to anything at TSU. So it was kind of a coming home moment. It was just crazy how God works.”
It was also just how things have gone for Wilson.
As a true freshman at Furman, an injury to the starting quarterback opened the door for Wilson to start the final six games, and he played well enough to make the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. But the next season, he was replaced by the former starter after just one record-breaking game, which led to him redshirting the rest of the season and then transferring to TSU.
Then last season under Clarence McKinney and his staff, Wilson was pressed into service and responded with 1,633 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns.
The Tigers’ 3-8 overall and 2-6 SWAC record, however, wasn’t enough to warrant a contract extension for McKinney. So it’s another year, another offensive coordinator and a new offensive plan for Wilson.
It’s also a new year with stiff competition from transfer Kenneth “KJ” Cooper, true freshman Carter Barnes, Jordan Davis and Cornelius Banks. The current coaching staff recruited Cooper and Barnes, Banks enrolled in the spring and Davis was a redshirt last year.
Interestingly, Wilson has embraced the change and is genuinely excited about what Dishman and his staff have in store.
“I want to say I’m getting used to the change, but it’s definitely not anything new to me,” said Wilson, who attended the prestigious Manning Passing Camp in Louisiana this summer. “Going from a spread offense to a pro-style offense has been exciting. It’s a chance to just learn more.”
“Almost every coach out there has worked in the NFL, played in the NFL so just knowledge and the way they have teaching us compared to in the past. It’s exciting.”
Since Dishman, a former star defensive back for the Houston Oilers, arrived in January he has insisted that nobody has a starting job. They will be earned, and that means Wilson, too.
But the first clue that Wilson has already impressed the new coaching staff is that he has been named a team captain. Wilson also was voted the All-SWAC preseason second team this summer.
Dishman, however, still hasn’t named a starting quarterback and may not until right before the Tigers’ Aug. 31 season opener against Prairie View.
“I’m excited about our quarterback position,” Dishman said. “We have four guys competing for a starting position. Even though we have quarterbacks back, it doesn’t mean they win the starting job. They’ve got to work just as hard as anybody has got to work.”
That doesn’t seem to bother Wilson. It’s an opportunity to keep growing and proving himself under Dishman’s staff.
“Everything has a reason behind it. Everything is calculated,” Wilson said. “Our new strength coaches are amazing. It just feels like a different program. We are excited. Everybody that’s on the bandwagon now, we are going to keep going forward and if you are not with it, you’ve got to get off.”
