MELISSA, Texas – Gunnar Wilson has entered his linebacker era.
Since playing football for the first time at age 6, Wilson has played almost every position on the field.
But his experience as a linebacker was minimal when college coaches like Oklahoma State assistant Joe Bob Clements suddenly began recruiting him to be one.
Scheduled to enroll at OSU in June with the remaining newcomers from the 2024 recruiting class, Wilson’s future became abundantly clear as his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame was developing toward the end of his junior season at Melissa High School.
But the journey to get there was far from straightforward.
For a few years in grade school, Wilson was so much bigger than his teammates that he found himself on the offensive line. In elementary school, he was still one of the biggest kids for his age, but this time he fell into the defensive line. At other times, he was a quarterback, running back and defensive back.
As a sophomore and junior at Melissa, Wilson earned multiple all-state honors as a tight end, although he was a bit undersized for the position at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds. In his junior season, he also played five games at safety, totaling 40 tackles and two interceptions – but most importantly, providing a track record as a defensive player.
“I think they saw my length and my ability to run laterally from the safety position, and that’s what they liked,” Wilson said of the OSU coaches, who made an offer before Wilson had played a game at linebacker. “OSU didn’t even come to see me play linebacker in the spring because I was injured.”
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The Cowboys weren’t the only ones to offer Wilson a scholarship without seeing him play the position. When he committed to OSU last June, he had 13 offers, with just one — from Texas-San Antonio — at tight end.
Wilson finished his senior season with 88 tackles in 12 games, but racked up several double-digit tackle games late in the season as he began to really settle into the new position.
Playing closer to the line of scrimmage, he combined the physicality he learned playing tight end and the field vision he gained at safety to be a wrecking ball at outside linebacker.
While his experience as a linebacker isn’t deep, Wilson believes the knowledge he gained playing so many different positions is a greater benefit.
“I can see the whole field and anticipate what’s about to happen,” he said. “I pay attention to the down and the distance on every play and I can put myself in the right situation.
“My football IQ allows me to be in the right place to make the right plays.”
Because of the way it has grown into his body, Wilson’s speed stands out.
He previously played baseball and ran track in high school, but is focused on gaining muscle this spring. Following the training plan provided by the OSU strength team, he says he has gained more than 10 pounds since the end of football season.
“I focused on a lot of skills training and in the weight room instead of running on the track,” he said. “But I’m okay with showing up like this in June because they’re probably going to cut 5 pounds off me and then add 10 back.
“I’m really excited to get there. They’re always competing to go to the Big 12 Championship and now, hopefully, the playoffs.”
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This article originally appeared in the Oklahoman: Oklahoma State recruited Gunnar Wilson at LB before playing the position
