USC’s Brandon Wilds likes having something to prove
Brandon Wilds is not expected to be an early round pick in this year’s NFL Draft. In fact, many people don’t believe he’ll be drafted and will have to enter the league through a free agent contract.
That’s fine with Wilds. He easily admits he’s always played better with a chip on his shoulder.
“That’s definitely fair to say,” he said. “Since I was a little kid and somebody told me I was too big to run the ball. That person knows who they are, and it’s kind of funny now.”
That happened when Wilds was “6 or 7,” he said, and it still motivates him today.
“I still remember it exactly,” he said. “I was playing for the Vikings. I was No. 44.”
Wilds carried the ball 379 times for 1,844 yards and 13 touchdowns at South Carolina, and he believes he could have done more for the Gamecocks if he had more opportunities.
“I don’t regret anything, but I would have liked to be used a lot more,” he said Wednesday at the NFL Combine. “I brought it up a few times, but I’m just a player, do what I’m told. I would have loved to showcase my talent (more) even if it was at another position besides tailback because I pretty much can do it all.”
Wilds is ranked the 27th-best running back in this year’s draft class by CBSSports.com, but he believes he’ll end up being much better than that. In fact, he believes he compares favorably to former Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, a former Pro Bowl selection.
“Former teammates and coaches who have been involved in the Chicago organization, that’s the first thing they told me, ‘You remind me of Matt Forte,’ ” Wilds said, “and I watched his tape and it was kind of shocking.”
He knows he will have to answer plenty of questions about a string of injuries at South Carolina, especially after former coach Steve Spurrier said following the LSU game that Wilds “took himself out” of the game.
“That was miscommunication,” Wilds said. “We settled that. The doctor told me I was supposed to be out for six weeks. I came back in four. I knew my team needed me.”
Wilds points out none of those injuries required surgery, and he thinks his 40-yard dash time, which he predicted would be sub-4.5, will erase doubts about his value.
“I prove myself on the field,” he said. “There has not been a time I have actually been on the field and did bad or not lived up to expectations.”
All in for Clemson
Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan continues to be the best ambassador he can be for Clemson’s football team. Ryan’s son Seth is a walk-on wide receiver and holder for the Tigers.
Ryan was asked Wednesday about Ohio State having a combine-high 14 players at this year’s event and promptly responded, “Yeah, all of Clemson’s players are younger.”
He also praised former Tiger wide receiver Sammy Watkins, who has 125 catches for 2,029 yards in his first two seasons with the Bills.
“I think he will be one of these perennial Pro Bowl guys,” Ryan said.