Blue White Illustrated

ou would have been hard-pressed to 4nd anyone more eager for the start of spring practice than freshman corner- back Marquis Wilson. The Connecticut native was forced to sit out last fall following a transfer from Avon Old Farms, where he played in 2017, to Windsor, where he earned varsity letters in 2015 and '16. For Wilson, it hurt knowing that he wasn't going to be able to play one last season with his friends. But in some ways, it was also a blessing in disguise. By that time, the three-star cornerback already knew that his future resided in Happy Valley. So, instead of focusing on his high school team in the months leading up to his January enrollment, Wilson got to work with Stack Williams and the sta5 at Supreme Athletes, a group of mentors and trainers based in Bloom4eld, Conn. "Marquis got a7er it in the fall. He pushed himself hard," said Williams, who began training Wilson when he was in seventh grade. "I have my own facility, and Marquis was here every day. That's why I believe he's going to be one of the more advanced young guys when spring ball starts. He's been focusing on this for months now." Supreme Athletes also introduced Wil- son to a future college teammate. Back in 2015, Tyler Rudolph of Waterbury, Conn., joined Williams and his sta5. At 4rst, Wil- son looked at it as a challenge, but as time went on, he realized that Rudolph was more than just another competitor. "At 4rst, I didn't really know him," Wil- son said. "He wasn't really a friend of mine, so I was always trying to make him look foolish. But once we got to know each other more, we just connected. We actually have the same birthday and everything. Now, I feel like he's my brother. He's like a twin to me." Wilson and Rudolph even committed together. Back on May 19, they drove sep- arately to State College with friends and family to visit with James Franklin and his assistants. Both committed before leaving campus. Wilson announced his decision the next day, while Rudolph publicly de- clared on May 21. Those announcements were the result of a trip that had taken place about a month earlier. The two prospects took their o6cial visits during Blue-White Weekend, and from that point on, the Nittany Lions were in the driver's seat. "When we went on our o6cial [visit] together, we were roommates," Wilson said. "We would come back to the room at night and just talk about how something really big is happening at Penn State. We were talking about how we could help get this team to that next level and help Coach Franklin become the 4rst African- American coach to win a national cham- pionship. We just realized that we can make history here." Having a close friend join him at the same school made it easier for Wilson to commit, but it was far from the only rea- son. In the months leading up to his deci- sion, Iowa, Nebraska and Syracuse also emerged as appealing options. Wilson admitted that Dino Babers and his sta5 at Syracuse gave him a lot to think about. But James Franklin and his assistants had distinguished themselves by getting to know many of the people close to Wil- son, not just Wilson himself. The sta5's approach persuaded him that this wasn't just about football. "The relationships that they built with not just me, but everyone around me – that really had a big impact," he said. "Penn State went out of their way to get to know everyone that I really care about. Whether it was my mom, my dad, my mentors or the people who've coached me and trained me over the years. They just got to know everyone who was close with me. That re- ally showed me and my family that they re- ally care about me. That was one of the big things, maybe the biggest thing." Wilson has now been on campus and training for more than two months, and spring practice is just now beginning. What he does in August, when preseason practice begins, will play a bigger role in how his 4rst season plays out. At the same time, he also knows that 4rst impressions go a long way. Williams said he's been "hearing good things" about Wilson's 4rst few months on campus. "I know he's hit the ground running up there and isn't taking any days o5," he said. "That doesn't surprise me at all, be- cause Marquis is that Deion Sanders-type player. He's so rangy and makes some crazy plays, so this is his chance to not just show the coaches that he's ready to ball, but show the entire team that. I can't wait to see what he does." ■ CLICK HERE to see video of Wilson in action. Wilson eager to resume football career with Lions | Y THE WILSON FILE STATS Finished with 98 tackles and 11 interceptions during his final two years of high school football... Helped Windsor High win a state championship in 2016... Played basketball and lacrosse and also ran track HONORS Named a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, as well as the No. 4 prospect in Connecticut... Won first-team All- New England and All-Erickson honors in 2017 and was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year

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