With much of the offseason focus on CJ Bailey heading into this season, backup quarterback Will Wilson is flying somewhat under the radar. But it's easy to forget the efficiency Wilson brought to the field last year in NC State’s dedicated 3rd-down and short-yardage packages.
Wilson finished the year with 43 carries for 146 yards. While a 3.4 yards-per-carry average might look modest on paper, it misses the true impact of his usage: 67.4% of Wilson’s carries resulted in either a first down or a touchdown. On 3rd downs, he converted 9 first downs on 15 attempts. On 4th downs, he was nearly automatic, converting 8 of 9 attempts.
Even when opposing defenses and everyone in the stadium knew Wilson was coming into the game to run, he consistently produced. Where does that high-stakes execution come from?
"I talk to God. I point out to God and I go get it... I wear the wristband every single day that says 'Go get it.' That's the mindset with everything you do in life, but just go get it every single time. Don't think twice about it."
While his mindset plays a huge role, Wilson is always quick to credit the line ahead of him.
"No matter which way they lined up or who they put out there, I believed in myself. First of all, I believed in the boys up front because it was all them."
Defenses will undoubtedly scheme for the "Willcat" package again this season, raising the question of whether NC State will add new wrinkles to keep opponents off balance.
Dave Doeren addressed Wilson’s expanding skill set at ACC Kickoff:
"Will did a hell of a job last year... so it takes hits off of CJ if that's something we want to do. Will's really improved as a passer as well, so his menu of plays will be way different."
Doeren followed up during fall camp, noting Wilson’s continued growth from the pocket:
"Patience. Just comfortable—the game's slowing down a little bit for him, you know what I mean? Going through his progressions, being more patient, under control of his footwork. His accuracy is better because of that."
That trust from the coaching staff is mutual, and Wilson understands how critical trust is inside the program:
“That's big. Trust is a big word. Whenever you step on the field, your boys gotta trust you. If they don't trust you, they're not gonna play hard. If you trust the man next to you, he'll play even harder. Having that trust—just building order—means the world to me.”
Beyond physical development, Wilson’s confidence stems from mastering the mental side of the game:
“It’s really about the mental side. People say it's physical, but getting your mind where it needs to be is everything. Having your eyes on defenders, seeing slants in the middle, and growing in the knowledge of the offense... Once you master the offense, you can read the defense. Knowing coverages and pressures helps you play faster.”
Despite his growth, Wilson remains behind Bailey on the depth chart. While QB competitions can sometimes create tension, the Wolfpack quarterback room maintains a tight-knit group:
“We make each other better. It’s a big family—Coach Roper, Matt, CJ, Tad Hudson, Parker, Hudson. We all push each other. Even though we're both gaining experience, things I see, I'll tell CJ. Things he sees, he tells me.”
Wilson added:
“CJ and I are real brothers. If he sees something, he’s going to tell me. If I see something, I’ll tell him. The game is all about processing things mentally, and that’s the biggest thing.”
As NC State prepares for its season opener against Virginia, expectations around the program remain high. When asked what this Wolfpack team can achieve this year, Wilson didn't hesitate:
“Easy. ACC Champions.”
