BYU football: Meet QB Kane Wilson, JUCO prospect
By Ron Jensen
BYU football will likely turn to the junior college ranks this offseason for recruiting purposes. Specifically at the quarterback spot. Meet Kane Wilson.
Fullerton College is 11-0 and the No. 1 junior college team in the nation, according to Scout.com. A big reason for that is sophomore quarterback Kane Wilson.
If that name sounds familiar, it should. He was on the Utah State football team back in 2009. After a drug-related legal incident, Wilson left the program, and consequently, college football.
Few heard or saw anything about the former California high school standout in the years to come. That was until the fall of 2017.
Wilson, now 26 years old, came out of nowhere to earn a co-starter role as quarterback for the Hornets. What a story! This is the real-life version of Paul Blake from the 1990’s film Unnecessary Roughness.
But this is not just the makings of good television. Wilson is good. Really good!
Wilson has completed 69.9 percent of his passes and averages 174 yards per game through the air. Why so few yards? He shares time with running quarterback, Ladarius Skelton, who leads the conference in rushing yards per game.
Wilson, who is the son of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Dave Wilson, is also an athletic specimen. He’s 6-foot-’4 225 pounds, and allegedly runs a 4.7 40-yard dash. Check out his highlights here.
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In recent days, coaches have stated that BYU football isn’t opposed to grabbing a junior college quarterback to compete for the job this offseason. That is, if he meets the list of criteria.
The Cougars have a knack for picking up quarterback transfers that can make the smooth transition. Steve Sarkisian and Max Hall top the list as some of the more successful ones.
This quarterback must have the ability to step in, win the position and start right away. He needs to be a proven leader and winner. He’s got to have the maturity to gain the confidence of his teammates and make an immediate impact.
From what he’s done this season, Kane Wilson checks off many of these requirements. It is undeniable that there’s something special about him, that’s displayed every time he takes the field.
Wilson possesses a diverse skill set that fits into a variety of different offenses and schemes. In fact, there are many likenesses to one Taysom Hill. This would aid BYU football’s new offensive coordinator, tremendously.
He just might be the answer to the Cougars’ quarterback problem. Whether or not he’s interested in returning to Utah, is anybody’s best guess. But, it’s definitely worth a try.
Despite a terrible 2017 season, BYU football has a lot to offer. The 64,000-capacity stadium, national tv schedule and state of the art facilities are nice perks. Especially for a guy that hadn’t touched the field for almost a decade.
So, will Kane Wilson be a BYU quarterback for in 2018? There’s no doubt he’s one of the best junior college options out there. Only time will tell if he finds a home in Provo.