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EACH WEEK, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT A MEMORABLE MOMENT IN ILLINI HISTORY, THANKS TO THE WORDS OF THE NEWS-GAZETTE
This week: Times were better for Martez Wilson in 2006, the five-star recruit from Chicago Simeon picking Illinois over Notre Dame, Ohio State and USC. Bob Asmussen was in Chicago to cover the official annoucement.
Date: Dec. 21, 2006
Headline: Two-way street — Wilson gets word he'll play both ways, then gives Illini his word
By BOB ASMUSSEN
CHICAGO – Picture this: The Illinois freshman grabs Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel, forcing a fumble. His teammates recover the ball. The next play, the freshman, now playing offense, finds an opening in the back corner of the end zone and catches Juice Williams' pass for a touchdown.
Sound impossible? Not according to the folks who have followed Martez Wilson's high school career.
"Two positions I'll say he'll be great at," Chicago Simeon coach Jesse Quick said. "He has the speed of a receiver. He's quick as a cat and strong for an outside linebacker. He's going to be special."
When the Illini open with Missouri on Sept. 1, Wilson plans to be on the field as much as possible. Just like in high school.
"(The Illinois coaches) told me if they didn't play me both ways they'd be wasting my time," Wilson said. "Once they told me that and I heard it from Ron Zook himself, that helped me to make my decision."
The Chicago Simeon two-way star made it official Thursday night in his high school's auditorium, putting on a blue, orange and white Illinois hat and saying, "I'm going to be a Fighting Illini." With a setup suitable for a Heisman Trophy presentation – poinsettias and Christmas lights lined the stage – Wilson quickly made the announcement before taking questions.
Wilson picked Illinois over Notre Dame, Ohio State, Southern Cal and others.
"I had so many options," Wilson said. "People get caught up on a school's name. You've got to choose what's best for you and where your heart and mind leads you."
Thursday's announcement wasn't a big surprise. Wilson had told Illinois coach Zook his intentions earlier in December.
"I'm a man of my word," Wilson said. "This is the final commitment."
In a string of recruiting prizes for Zook, Wilson is near the top. He is the top-rated player in the state and the No. 2 defensive end in the country, according to Rivals.com. Overall, Rivals.com has Wilson as the No. 26 prospect.
The chance to play early helped Illinois land Wilson, who becomes the third Chicago Public League player in the class.
"That was real important because I want to come in and make an impact as a true freshman," Wilson said. "I want to go to the NFL, too. That's my No. 1 dream. In order to do that, I've got to play."
Wilson is the second five-star recruit in the class, joining Washington (D.C.) Dunbar receiver Arrelious Benn.
What Wilson has to offer over many of the top recruits is versatility. On defense, he had 145 tackles for the Wolverines. On offense, he caught 14 touchdown passes. On one long catch against Chicago Dunbar, he did a front flip into the end zone. At 6-foot-4, 235 pounds.
Wilson the defender is often compared with former Illini and longtime NFL star Simeon Rice. It's a fair comparison, Simeon defensive coordinator Dennis Butler said.
"I think it's good for him just to let him know that people think of him as being that type of player," Butler said. "But it hasn't affected the kind of kid he is. He's a real levelheaded young man."
Rice was strictly a defensive end at Illinois and in the NFL. Butler thinks Wilson might be more effective as a linebacker, a position he played as a senior.
"We put him in the middle and he just made plays," Butler said. "The way he closes is unbelievable."
Whatever the position, Butler said, Wilson is ready for college football.
"I think he'll definitely make an impact right away," Butler said.
Butler won't be surprised to see Wilson helping the Illini on both sides.
"He can do it," Butler said. "He's fast. A defensive back is not going to outjump him. He's tough to tackle."
Butler said he expects Wilson to do well off the field at Illinois, too.
"He's a real good young man," Butler said. "If there are negative things going on, he's the type of guy who will go the other way."
Wilson now becomes an Illinois recruiter. He has talked often about Illinois with friend Josh Brent. The Bloomington Central Catholic defensive tackle was supposed to be a part of Thursday's announcement but had to cancel because of a basketball conflict.
"I'm working on him and my buddy back there, Robert Hughes," Wilson said.
Hughes, The News-Gazette All-State Player of the Year from Chicago Hubbard, was in the audience for Wilson's announcement. Hughes plans to make his announcement during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 6. He is down to Illinois and Notre Dame.
What ever happened to playing him both ways? That panned out...
Posted by on September 21, 2009 at 9:48 PM | Suggest Removal
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