QU senior offensive tackle receives mention on Shrine Bowl 1,000 list

QUINCY — B.J. Wilson understood Quincy University football coach Gary Bass had a vision.

That doesn’t mean Wilson shared it.

“I did not think I was going to like O-line,” said the 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle.

Bass felt Wilson’s mixture of size and athleticism — he was a 240-pound tight end from St. Louis University High when he signed with the Hawks in 2017 — lent itself to being a premier left tackle rather than a pass-catching blocker.

“And I ended up loving it,” Wilson said. “So I guess (Bass) knew what he was doing.”

This week’s developments emphasized that yet again.

Wilson, the senior from Florissant, Mo., was named to the Shrine Bowl 1,000 list, which is a collection of athletes from more than 200 colleges who are viewed as potential targets for the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL draft class.

Only 29 student-athletes from NCAA Division II programs made the list, and Wilson is the only player from a Great Lakes Valley Conference program to receive mention.

“It’s the recognition of the work I’ve been putting in and it shows me people are out there watching and seeing what I’m doing,” Wilson said. “This is just opening more and more doors. It’s really exciting, honestly.”

Wilson enters the fall as QU’s starting left tackle for the fifth straight season — the Hawks played a modified three-game schedule during the 2020-21 school year due to COVID-19 — and is a two-time All-GLVC selection.

He’s made the transition to the offensive line look easy.

“It wasn’t easy,” Wilson said. “I had to get used to moving with power as opposed to moving with agility. It’s a combination of both at the end of the day.”

Because he possesses both, along with a burst of speed from his days as a tight end, professional scouts have taken notice. Representatives from the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Rams have been in contact with Bass regarding Wilson.

“I always felt like I was giving my all in everything I did,” Wilson said. “I didn’t really think there was another level I could hit. But all of this stuff that has happened since the spring, it has unlocked another level. My focus has gotten better. My drive has gotten higher.

“I didn’t think that was possible. Obviously, it was.”

As the Hawks’ bona fide leader up front, his drive should rub off on his teammates. That’s been noticeable all summer with around 50 players staying in Quincy to train together ahead of their fall return, which is scheduled for August 6.

The Hawks’ season opener is scheduled for September 1 against Glenville State at QU Stadium.

“We have a whole bunch of guys who are just now getting experience,” Wilson said. “I’ve seen them grow. I’ve seen they want to win. They want to win with the team we have now. It’s the time to do it.”