“Second-Year Surge: The Sophomore Sensation Who Worked His Way to the Top”

By Nate Black and Torsten Schenck

SEATTLE- It was a cold night at West Seattle Stadium — a cold that made your body tingle and turned your breath into a white cloud. The team was down 6–14 at Seattle Prep’s 45-yard line. But there was one man who was ready to rise to the occasion. Heart pounding in the ready stance, all that was running through sophomore running back J’Shaun Wilson’s mind was that this night was different. He was starting at home for the first time in his O’Dea career. As he took the handoff, he exploded around the edge and ran to the 30, 20, 10 — TOUCHDOWN. Last year he was just on the freshman team, but now he was starting and scoring on varsity. So, what was the change that propelled him to stardom? The answer lies in the offseason. 

Over the summer, Wilson committed to improving his physical abilities by attending Coach Paynter’s workouts. Determined to make this year different, he showed up to every summer session. Through exercises like bench, squat, clean, and numerous other activities, he gained more muscle and a stronger physical presence, allowing him to bounce off defenders this season. Wilson reflected on those summer workouts, saying that they made him feel “ready for anything” and “ready to go” for the new season. 

Showing up every day is not an easy task, but Wilson was able to combat that with motivation. Last year, Wilson was only a freshman when O'Dea won the state championship, meaning he did not play but only watched from the sidelines. “Seeing the feeling of winning the state championship and the other players that actually played made me want to actually play this time,” said Wilson. The feeling of brotherhood and the atmosphere combined to ignite that fire in Wilson. 

By the time the game against Seattle Prep came around, Wilson knew he was ready. All of his work in the offseason wasn’t for nothing — he eliminated distractions and honed in on his main focus. That focus was his game and how he would execute on the field in front of coaches and teammates. 

Now, as O’Dea football enters the playoffs, Wilson will look to battle back for a starting role on the offense. When asked if he was going to start, Wilson said, “It all depends on how I play and how I execute.” But if his form is anything to go by, there’s no doubt we’ll be seeing him in the playoffs.