MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Following Shaquery Wilson’s flip from Georgia to West Virginia, his high school coach at Coral Gables, Fla., said the three-star recruit is a talented athlete who can help the Mountaineers “win some big games.”
“Anytime any team from the SEC comes in and says you can play corner or receiver, I think that speaks bounds,” Roger Pollard said Thursday night during an appearance on MetroNews “Sportsline.”
“We’re saying a 6-2 kid with speed in the 4.5 range, he’s 195 pounds legit and looks like he should in the weight room.”
Wilson was projected as a defensive back at Georgia, where he committed last summer. But ultimately he warmed to West Virginia’s offer to play receiver.
“He kind of was intrigued by the ability to play defensive back for Georgia, but as he started to think about it—and go with what he’s always played, which was wide receiver—that’s what opened up his mind to West Virginia,” Pollard said.
“The offense is explosive, and who wouldn’t want to play wide receiver at West Virginia? … Year in and year out there’s not one but two receivers that are throwing up some big numbers. He just honestly believes in his heart of hearts that if he comes in and works hard that he can catch that thing called success.”
Coral Gables, which used Wilson as a slot receiver and split wide, went 20-5 over Wilson’s final two seasons, winning a combined three playoff games in Class 8A, Florida’s largest classification.
“When he catches the ball he runs with an attitude,” Pollard said. “With his size, he’s a strong individual and he’s hard to bring down.
“I think he has tremendous upside, but there’s so many things that can happen. Is the potential there? Yes sir. I know Coach (Lonnie) Galloway is going to do a good job getting after him and working him to his full potential. And if he stays the course and keeps on working like he did here … I think he can come up with some big plays and win some big games.”