Jace Wilson Interview - 2023 SWAC Newcomer of the Year
Texas Southern's quarterback Jace Wilson sat for an interview with Kyle T. Mosley of HBCU Legends to talk about Wilson being named the 2023 SWAC Newcomer of the Year.
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00:07 All right, HBCU family, it's Coyote Mosley of HBCU Legends on Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation.
00:15 Man, we got a good one with us today.
00:19 It's none other than the 2023 SWAC Newcomer of the Year,
00:25 Mr. Jace Wilson out of Texas Southern Tigers.
00:30 What's going on, man?
00:30 How you doing?
00:31 >> Man, I'm doing pretty good, man.
00:33 I'm glad to be on here.
00:34 >> Good, good.
00:36 Look, I know I watched you all season long over at Texas Southern and
00:40 I saw the evolution and development that you had in the program.
00:45 As well as I talked to Coach McKinney quite extensively about how you've been
00:51 progressing as well as your other teammates and everybody said that you
00:56 have really shown great progress and great promise for the program as well.
01:03 Just going into this year, I mean, I know when you transferred from Furman,
01:09 did you have any idea that you will be starting?
01:12 >> Transferring from Furman, I think one of the things that me and
01:19 Coach McKinney talked about when I came to visit was having
01:23 an opportunity to compete when I came in and ultimately lead this football team.
01:29 And so they made the decision to have AB play the PV game and ended up working out.
01:36 They told me in the morning of Toledo game that I was gonna be the starter.
01:39 And so just being prepared, coming in the spring,
01:43 learning the offense a little bit and we're kind of figuring each other out.
01:47 Me, Coach Marsh McKinney, and we kind of hit our stride in the middle of the season
01:51 and we kind of were getting better each game.
01:54 And so just having that time in the system and
01:59 then them believing in me ultimately, we really helped out and worked out.
02:03 >> Yeah, it did, man.
02:05 I know no one really anticipated Andrew being out for the rest of the season,
02:11 especially just being out period.
02:14 Because everything he was telling us is that he's ready and
02:18 he felt like he was ready for the season.
02:20 But in that preview game, you could see some things were kind of missing there,
02:25 as far as his injuries concerned.
02:27 But you were told to me by Darius Owens, right?
02:34 That the team kind of galvanized themselves around you and
02:40 really helped you out and kind of protected you in some ways to
02:45 make sure that you were going to be a success.
02:49 Talk about your teammates and what you have learned from your experience just
02:54 being with these guys over at Texas Southern.
02:57 >> The great thing about being from Houston was I knew kind of half the team
03:02 before I even transferred here.
03:04 And I mean, Coach McKinney was my first offer out of high school.
03:07 And so- >> Really?
03:09 >> Yeah, Coach McKinney was my first offer in high school.
03:11 And so just coming back home, being close to family and
03:17 then like you said, my teammates.
03:18 I mean, I feel like the locker room didn't skip a beat when there's a change
03:23 at quarterback and they kind of, like you said, they get galvanized around me.
03:27 I had my O-line, I mean, me and my O-line go out to eat all the time every week.
03:30 And so having a thousand yard rusher next to you doesn't hurt as well, I mean.
03:35 >> Yeah, it doesn't hurt to sneeze at him at all, right?
03:40 >> You're right, you're gonna get six yards right there.
03:42 I mean, so just having those guys and then Coach Z, Coach Marsh, and
03:46 like you said, just everyone just kind of believing in me over the course of the
03:49 season, it helped a lot.
03:51 And like you said, I mean, I'm just glad I could come in and
03:54 get a newcomer of the year.
03:55 >> Yeah, now talk about this, man.
03:58 We saw you at the Rice game.
04:02 The Rice game was pretty hard game for all of you guys.
04:06 And it didn't seem like you guys were headed in the right direction.
04:10 But the next game, things kind of changed for you.
04:14 Is that when you kind of got the feeling that, okay, I can do this.
04:20 And we can do it as a team and we can be able to push forward.
04:23 >> Yeah, I mean, those early games, we had trouble starting fast.
04:29 And you get behind the eight ball against Toledo and Rice.
04:33 It's gonna be hard to come back.
04:34 And so we went to the Grambling Week focused and we kind of had our game plan and
04:39 a couple of plays that we knew we could hang our hat on.
04:44 And so after, like I said, figuring each other out, I mean,
04:47 that game we had two receivers get hurt that game as well.
04:50 I think I had about 200 yards and three touchdowns that game.
04:56 And like you said, everything was hitting.
04:57 So a couple of plays that game, maybe we win it.
05:00 But like you said, that game, I think everyone kind of believed in me after,
05:04 as far as showing that I could be a leader of this team and
05:07 lead this team to victory.
05:09 And it wasn't gonna be a bad season.
05:10 So I think that game helped a lot.
05:13 >> Yeah, yeah, it did.
05:14 You can see not only how the guys were responding to you,
05:20 but you were like, okay, let's push forward.
05:24 Because before you were kind of, let me see what's out.
05:29 But now you were more aggressive that game.
05:32 And then you started rolling,
05:36 just kind of getting it rolling the rest of the season.
05:39 Now you had what, over 1,700 yards in passing and
05:43 10 touchdowns in the season as well.
05:46 I know some of your boys on the wide receivers, they dropped some easy ones
05:51 there, [LAUGH] but we don't gotta talk about that.
05:54 [LAUGH] >> It comes with the territory.
05:57 I mean, we all mess up and that's the good thing about being on a team is like,
06:01 he can jog back to the huddle and I've never yelled, hey,
06:04 let's go get it again next time.
06:06 So I mean, that's the glory of it.
06:08 Like you said, everyone galvanizing around each other.
06:11 >> Yeah, yeah, pretty good, man.
06:14 Do you know that you and Andrew now have the distinction of being
06:18 Texas Southern's newcomers of the year at quarterback?
06:23 >> He won it like two years ago.
06:25 >> In 2021.
06:27 >> That's pretty, he told me congratulations earlier today.
06:31 I still gotta see everybody, but that's pretty cool.
06:34 >> Yeah, yeah.
06:35 Now, there's been a transition, of course.
06:37 Everybody knows that Coach McKinney is no longer with the program.
06:42 And you just spoke about how he was the first person to offer you
06:47 an opportunity to join his football program.
06:51 Talk about the feeling that you have or
06:54 the experience just losing a coach that believed in you.
07:00 >> Yeah, that was kind of hard.
07:04 We knew coming in this season, it was last year on the contract and
07:08 these big games.
07:09 I mean, it was gonna come down to whether he was gonna stay or be gone.
07:14 So that obviously sucks.
07:16 I find it feel like some of the times, some of the games I could have made a play
07:21 or two and we're that close.
07:23 I mean, you go back and look at the Jackson State game, who knows?
07:27 I mean, maybe we win that game if they say we make that field goal.
07:30 And the FAMU game, we're 14-0 at halftime.
07:36 I mean, those games suck to lose and
07:39 it sucks to see a good man like him as far as off the field.
07:44 Just off the field, how he cultivated that program.
07:46 And I grew up around the program.
07:50 And so just seeing the amount of growth that he took this program from
07:55 when he first got here and to now, it was a beautiful thing.
08:00 And I mean, I told him I'm gonna miss him and I was pulling for
08:03 him to get the extra year.
08:04 But we'll obviously stay in contact and I know he's wishing the best for me and
08:08 I wish the best for him.
08:09 >> Yeah, that's the thing, man.
08:11 Coach is a good guy, good man.
08:14 And you see how he's been able to develop guys like yourself as well as Andrew,
08:20 as well as Ladarius.
08:21 And you can go on and on with the Montario Anderson from last season,
08:27 Michael Badgill from season before that.
08:30 Really great talent that has come through that program under Coach McKinney.
08:37 What's the process for you going forward?
08:39 What are you going to think about as well as sit down with your parents and
08:44 kind of figure out what's the next direction for you?
08:48 >> I'm all in, man.
08:50 I'm good where I'm at at home in Houston.
08:53 I like going home on the weekends and getting some home cooked meals.
08:57 >> [LAUGH] >> And being here for this university,
09:00 I mean, I knew, I feel like God led me here for a reason, man.
09:04 And my first offer coming out here, my dad graduated from TSU.
09:10 I mean, I think I'm here for a reason.
09:11 And like I said, I wish I could get a couple of those games back.
09:15 But I'm excited going forward next year.
09:18 Whoever they bring in, I just know I'm gonna compete.
09:21 This team, we're really, really hungry.
09:24 And we know we're this close, like I said, we're this close getting over the hump.
09:28 And so just looking forward to getting my body right over this break and
09:32 looking forward to spring ball.
09:34 >> Now, when it comes to coaches, do you have a preference of what type of coach
09:40 that the program needs to bring in?
09:42 >> I think our preference as student athletes,
09:47 as far as here at Texas Southern, I mean,
09:51 I definitely wanna pass first coach,
09:55 come in and bring a good offensive mind in.
10:00 And I know they have the option to kind of hold back some coaches and
10:04 stuff like that.
10:05 So I don't know what they're gonna do with that.
10:08 They had a meeting with us and I think they'll be making a decision in two weeks.
10:12 So I'm not sure who's been out there, who's been sending resumes.
10:15 But I mean, I feel like we have the guys and we have kind of the leadership in place
10:19 to keep this team going and make sure you actually get over the hump and
10:24 win those couple of games and go shock the world.
10:27 And so somebody would come in and lead us and not kind of stewardship too much,
10:32 but just kind of pass first guy.
10:36 I'm excited to see what they bring in.
10:38 >> All right, good, good.
10:40 Talk to the people, who are you?
10:43 Who's Jace Wilson and what's your major?
10:46 I mean, what you're about?
10:47 >> I'm a communications major.
10:51 Now I like to cook sometimes.
10:54 I actually wanna be a sports analyst.
10:57 >> Okay.
10:58 >> Maybe be a sports announcer one day, so I'm working towards that.
11:02 And I mean, I played football, basketball and baseball in high school.
11:08 A lot of people in Houston knew me.
11:11 I think I saw some stuff on Twitter, somebody Andrew bodies, TSC.
11:15 I think a lot of people know me in Houston.
11:17 I'm excited to actually kind of just come over and take over.
11:20 And man, I'm excited about next year.
11:23 I just can't stop thinking about it, man.
11:25 >> Good, good.
11:27 How shocked were you to learn that you were the newcomer of the year?
11:32 >> Yeah, definitely our record, it didn't help.
11:37 But every game you go back and look at the stats.
11:42 I mean, I feel like personally I've played every quarterback we played against.
11:46 And so even with those L's, man, obviously I'd rather take the W.
11:51 They can have stats.
11:53 I feel like my stats need to be better anyway, ten touchdowns isn't enough.
11:57 >> Yeah.
11:59 >> But first year in the offense, receivers learning me, me learning receivers,
12:03 coaches learning me.
12:04 And like I said, you can see the attention to detail and
12:07 the progression as far as later in the season in our offense.
12:11 And so I think one more year in the system and
12:14 I might end up being a player the year next year.
12:18 >> That's what I like to hear, yeah, definitely.
12:21 Now, going into the 2024 season, do you have a regimen or
12:26 what you're gonna probably work on for yourself?
12:31 Of course, a lot of people say, I'm gonna go lift weights and all that stuff.
12:36 But you're a quarterback, quarterbacks do a little differently.
12:39 Talk about how you're gonna progress going forward with your offseason workout.
12:45 >> Definitely my number one focus will just be my body,
12:50 getting that to where I'm 195, just rock solid.
12:55 >> Rock solid, all right.
12:56 >> Rock solid, yeah, taking a couple of those hits.
12:58 I know you saw those hits against Southern.
13:00 >> Yeah, you got blasted a few times.
13:03 [LAUGH] >> I wanna be able to stand up to those
13:05 hits sometimes, man.
13:07 So definitely working on my body.
13:09 I'll be training with Pure Sports TX out here in Missouri City, Texas.
13:14 Working on my throwing mechanics and throwing from different arm angles and
13:19 also just getting to different reads and the progression stuff.
13:22 And so everything mental, and like I said, whoever they bring in,
13:26 I'll be learning offense first day they bring in.
13:29 And so I'll be in contact with that coach and my body would be the biggest thing.
13:36 >> Do you have like an offensive guru, someone who kind of works with you
13:41 on the different progressions or how to be able to make sure your technique
13:46 and throwing is on point?
13:49 >> Yeah, he gave birth to me, man, my dad.
13:51 >> Yeah, coach, what's his name?
13:53 Coach what?
13:54 [LAUGH] >> Coach J Wilson.
13:56 >> That's right.
13:57 >> He's an offensive coordinator at Brookshire Royal right now.
14:00 But I mean, he's been my coach kind of all my life.
14:03 And those car rides homes and they build up over time and
14:07 I'm so glad to have him in my corner.
14:09 He's my best friend.
14:10 And so just being with him, being back in the city with him and
14:12 being able to train is gonna be big for me this offseason.
14:15 >> Yeah, I know he's very proud of you.
14:18 >> Yes, sir.
14:19 >> All right, tell everybody how they can be able to find you on the world wide web.
14:24 >> My Instagram is is waste Jilson.
14:28 This is Jace Wilson, swap the letters and my Twitter is Jace Hollywood 16.
14:33 So just go check me out and I appreciate you having this interview with me, man.
14:38 I really do.
14:38 >> No problem, many more to come between us.
14:42 I gotta say this, we're very proud of from the guys who cover you in the media
14:47 here in the Houston area, knowing that you went from relatively unknown,
14:54 transferring in and taking the backseat to Andrew and
14:58 supporting him early on and then just taking charge of this program.
15:04 Congratulations to you, everything that you've done and
15:09 I look forward to seeing how you progress in your career.
15:13 >> I appreciate you, sir.
15:16 I look forward to doing some more of these interviews and go Tigers, man.
15:21 >> Go Tigers.
15:21 >> Go Tigers.
15:22 >> That's the swag.
15:24 2023 newcomer of the year, Mr.
15:27 Jace Wilson out of Texas Southern University in Third Ward, Houston.
15:33 Coyote Mosley from HBCU Legends.
15:36 That's Jace Wilson.
15:37 Thank you, Jace.
15:38 >> Thank you.
15:39 [MUSIC]