Player of the Week: Batesburg-Leesville’s Terrence Wilson a TD machine
Perry Woolbright knows players like Terrence Wilson don’t come along often.
Woolbright, the Batesburg-Leesville football coach, heard good things about Wilson when he took over the program last year, and the tailback hasn’t disappointed the past two seasons. The senior has been the workhorse and a touchdown machine as B-L transitioned from the wing-T to a one-back offense.
“He is one of those players you get to, hopefully, coach one in your lifetime,” Woolbright said. “Fortunately, I have gotten to coach him, and he is a special player. When the play might not be called or blocked right, he can still make it a good play. We go a lot how he goes.”
That was true last week as Wilson turned in his best performance of the season by rushing for 243 yards, two touchdowns and catching a 25-yard TD pass in the 19-6 win against Gilbert. The Panthers improved to 5-0.
Wilson is The State’s Player of the Week.
Wilson has rushed for 837 yards, 12 touchdowns and is averaging 6.9 yards per carry. He also has five catches for 69 yards and a TD and has a special teams touchdown.
Wilson can put his name at the top of the B-L record book this week against Crescent. He is three touchdowns shy of breaking former Shrine Bowl and S.C. State running back Deveto Johnson’s school record of 73.
Wilson likely will leave B-L as the school’s all-time leading rusher. He enters this week sixth on the school’s all-time rushing list, 512 yards behind Dekayus Keith’s mark of 4,163 yards.
“We have had some great players that were here in the past, and to accomplish that and be at the top, it feels very good,” Wilson said. “My game has become a lot better. I touch the ball a lot. It feels good to get the ball 30 times a time. It is a lot of work, but I prepare for it.”
Wilson said he hasn’t paid much attention to his stats or career records, but plenty of people remind him of them each week. Wilson’s main goal is to help B-L to a deep playoff run and to help secure his college future.
Wilson, 5-foot-9, 195 pounds, has offers from Marshall and South Carolina State. Applachian State and Georgia Southern also are interested. Woolbright said schools might shy away from Wilson because of his height, but he has no doubt that his star back can make an impact on the Division I level.
“To me, he can go to any Division I school that will take a chance on him. Unfortunately, some of the bigger schools are wanting that six-foot back,” Woolbright said. “But he can do all the things that six-foot backs can do and weigh the same thing. He can make the runs they make and, probably, has more speed and moves than them and can play at any level.
“Whoever is fortunate to sign him is going to get a great ball player. He can be an impact player right away at running back and on special teams.”
This story was originally published September 29, 2015 at 7:17 PM.