South Carolina Football: Former Gamecock captain gets new NFL gig

South Carolina football has had Shaq Wilson around for ten of the last thirteen seasons. Between his playing career, some off-field coaching, strength and conditioning work, and being an analyst, Wilson has done a lot for the Gamecock football program. Now, it is time for the former Gamecock captain to move on to the NFL.

According to a report from ESPN’s Rich Cimini on Wednesday, the former Carolina linebacker accepted a position as an assistant defensive line coach with the New York Jets. He had most recently worked as an assistant defensive line analyst with the Gamecocks.

During Wilson’s playing career (2008-2012), he faced some injuries that caused him to adapt and change the way he played to continue contributing to his team’s success. Originally a smaller, ranging weakside linebacker who weighed less than 200 pounds, the Jacksonville native became more of a run-stopper after missing about a year of game action.

A starter as a sophomore in 2009, he led the team in tackles with 85. After missing 2010 and getting reacclimated in 2011, he racked up 86 tackles despite being over 30 pounds heavier than when he first got on campus. Wilson’s adaptability and team-first mentality are traits his players would do well to emulate.

His new team, much like his alma mater, seems to be headed on an upward trajectory. The Jets have a very good defense and some good young talents up front on both lines of scrimmage. The quarterback position has been a struggle for the green and white, but Aaron Rodgers is supposedly on his way to New York.

Coach Wilson (as he is now called) might have just stepped into a very good football situation. While there aren’t too many Gamecocks-Jets crossover fandoms, Gamecock fans will certainly be happy for Wilson if the Jets do have their first good season in almost a decade.

Wilson joins Devonte Holloman and Byron Jerideau as former Gamecock players who have left their off-the-field roles with the program this offseason.