Albert Wilson – March 16, 2018
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Friday, March 16, 2018
WR Albert Wilson
(Tell us about your strengths. How would you describe your strengths as a player?) – “I’m pretty versatile. I can stretch the field down field or I can pretty much get the ball in my hands quick and can make something happen. I pretty much have experience with the slot, outside and lining up in the backfield. Pretty much whatever they need me to do, I’m pretty much up for it.”
(What does it mean to you at this point in your career to get this kind of opportunity and this kind of contract?) – “It’s definitely a blessing. It’s just what I’ve been wanting, just my hard work to be paid off and I still have a lot to do. I’m excited for this opportunity.”
(Can you tell us a little about that journey, about the difficulties you had? Just trying to get recruited out of high school, trying to make it to the pros out of Georgia State and just scrapping to make the Chiefs’ roster?) – “Yes, definitely. It’s been a journey of pretty much having to fight from the bottom of the pile and show what you have at the end of the road; but, this time around, God gave me an opportunity to where I’m pretty much in front of the pack. We’ve got a pretty good starting point where I’ve never had in my career, and I’m excited to see what I can do with it.”
(What does it mean to you to be back in South Florida?) – “It means a lot – just for my family itself – definitely to be closer to them and being able to have them see me on the regular and seeing me play on the regular. Not only for my family, but the people in my city to where I come back as much as I can and they only get to see me as much as possible. For those kids that are back in my hometown, to be able to see me and see what kind of work that I’m doing just a few hours away is definitely a great thing. Growing up in Florida, pretty much in the South, you grow up watching these guys play in the (aqua) and orange. It’s a dream when you play football, to get in this jersey, and now I have the opportunity. It’s an outright blessing.”
(In what ways will you try to bring energy and enthusiasm to practice, games and to the fans? I kind of noticed you tried to bring something different or special during that Dolphins/Chiefs game this year. How do you do that?) – “Definitely. That’s just who I am. It comes with me. As soon as I wake up in the morning, the energy is there and that’s part of my game. I feel like it helps the offense; not just the offense but it helps the defense. So when I come out there and I strap it up, I bring the energy. You’re going to get a dog out there that’s ready to put up a fight every battle and I feel like when somebody is fighting and giving it all you’ve got next to you, that man next to you is going to want to fight and give all he has.”
(Can you still play quarterback?) – “Oh, I’ve been working on my arm this offseason. Opportunities are coming, so you never want to set yourself short. (laughter)”
(I mean is that really something you could add as kind of a trick play or something like that?) – “Whatever the coaches need me to do. I’m just excited to be down here and get in a playbook and work with these guys and pretty much get some wins for this team.”
(Why Miami? How did this come about?) – “It was a great opportunity. We had some other options and when we lined everything up and saw what was the best thing for me and when … (Jarvis) Landry did a great job down here. He did a lot for the team. They split their ways and I felt like it was a perfect opportunity for me to step in and do some great things for this team.”
(WR Tyreek Hill was a guy the Chiefs oftentimes lined up in the backfield, and you got some of that work as well, lining up in the backfield. That’s part of your game. Is that something that you can also bring to the Miami Dolphins?) – “Yes, definitely. I’m very comfortable lining up in the backfield. Actually (I was doing that) before I first started lining up as a receiver in college. Before that, all I knew was lining up in the backfield. So I’m very comfortable with lining up in the backfield, in the slot and in the outside. It’s going to be fun getting with (the) coach(es) and putting a lot of things together.”
(What do you know about any of your fellow receivers? I know it would probably just be casual observations, but WR Danny Amendola, WR DeVante Parker and WR Kenny Stills. Do you know anything about anybody on this receiving corps?) – “Yes, definitely. Kenny … This receiving corps from last year, we’re flying right now. Just off of what you’re looking at, we’re straight up flying and I feel like the way we’re going to put a stretch on some defenses, it’s going to be crazy. The speed just outright shows itself. It’s going to be great getting with the guys and putting our speed to test. You know Danny is a straight-up dog. I feel like he’s very similar to myself in the slot and he’s going to work and win when you need him too. When you can count on a guy like that, they’re special.”
(You brought up WR Jarvis Landry a few minutes ago. What are your thoughts on him as a player and what attributes do you think there might be some commonalities?) – “He’s another dog out there. I love to watch him play. He’s a great receiver, has great hands. He’s definitely saucy. He’s a great guy and I’m definitely – as a football player and a fan of the game – I’m definitely attracted to see what he’s going to do in the future.”
(Reading about your background growing up around Port St. Lucie, you obviously went through an awful lot as a youngster. How do you look back on that experience? What do you tell people when they ask about your background?) – “It made me who I am today. A lot of things that I go through right now, it was pretty tough going through as a kid. It’s pretty much … I just look at it as a blessing. I took all my toughest battles early on as a kid. As an adult, I’m much stronger, so I feel like there’s nothing (that) can knock me down. It definitely was a blessing in disguise.”
(What do you think was a turning point in your life?) – “I would say around high school. I got around the right friends. I’ve got a mentor in Dr. (Marylin) Pryor. I had a football coach named Coach (Hilary) Poole, and they just showed me how talented I was as a kid and how smart I was as a kid. They showed me that outside of this neighborhood, there’s bigger things for you playing football, and we just took it one step at a time and now we’re here.”
(Are you surprised at where you are, looking back at how far you’ve come?) – “I wouldn’t say so. I worked really hard for this. I put in a lot of hours and a lot of work in for this opportunity. I’m not surprised that it’s here. I’m very excited for this opportunity, and I’m just looking forward to taking full advantage of it.”
(What was your impression of Head Coach Adam Gase?) – “He’s a great guy. Exciting. The energy that I got from him when we first met, it brought some butterflies to me, just how excited he was to get me in the building. I’m looking forward to putting in a lot of work with him.”
