Veteran Willingly Moves to Strengthen Defense

If a person has proven they can do something very effectively, one would understand them holding a reluctance to being asked to so something new.

Just not Chase Wilson.

Despite being a second-team All-Mountain West selection in 2023 as Colorado State starting mike linebacker, he offered no pushback when position coach Adam Pilapil asked him to slide over to will this spring, opening a spot for his understudy, Buom Jock.

"Absolutely, and I trust all of our coaches they're going to put us in a position to win. So, whatever they ask, I'm willing to do it and do it full throttle," said Wilson, who posted 107 tackles, 8.5 for loss, including 3.5 sacks. "There will be no hiccup and no problem for the switch. Boum is a smart guy, a really great player, so we're going to be ready to go.

"I'd be willing to play whatever. They could put me at safety, and I'd go back and play there. Probably best if I play at linebacker."

Good call, as it seems the backend of the secondary is in good hands with returners Jack Howell and Henry Blackburn. Also, a good call because Wilson, in his long career with the Rams, has spent time at will before.

He's a natural leader, and if a coach is asking a true sophomore like Jock to fill in a key role, there's no better time to do it than pairing him with a guy who knows exactly how to do it well.

"It's incredibly huge, and Chase is an incredible leader for our room," Pilapil said. "He's a good leader for our defense and our team, so just having the comfortability that Chase has at the position, he can help Boum along. It was incredibly important Boum got reps last year, so he has some experience, and those guys can play really well together."

The switch started in the spring, based on what Pilapil had seen them both do over the course of the season. Jock played in all 12 games, accumulating 34 tackles as Wilson's backup. It was also how he did it, how he was built and how the defense is designed.

At 6-foot-4, Jock is a bit lengthier than the 6-1 Wilson. He also runs a bit better, and with the mike position playing outside of the box more often than not, it seemed like a natural fit for Jock and a way to get two defensive playmakers on the field together.

"I was behind him at mike last year, so I learned a lot from him. Having some of that experience, in his fifth year, it's real nice because he knows what he's doing and I'm on the rise," Jock said. I'm getting to know exactly what I need to do on the field, so I'm getting excited. We built chemistry throughout last season and spring ball, which is when we really brought this then, so I feel it's very exciting.

"Mike is a great position because it's very rangy. I can get sideline to sideline, I can run down the middle and guard tight ends and running backs, do the things a traditional mike linebacker can't do. I feel like my length, my range, my athleticism really helps me, especially in the run fits and pass game. I feel it's really helpful in the pass game."

Wilson also likes the switch, because it will keep him and his bigger frame in the box more, closer to the point of attack and still very active in the run game, as well as certain blitz packages. Pilapil sees it as a best-of-both-worlds scenario for the pairing, with the defense reaping the ultimate benefit.

As a coach, Pilapil kept a keen eye on how it played out during the spring, and nothing was discouraging. Captains practices during the summer allowed for them to bond even more, and the extra layer is the role of Wilson on the team.

"He'll end up in the box a little bit more. He'll end up being a primary run defender, so some of the stuff he's really good at it gets him doing more of, and it also allows him to communicate and be more a part of the interior," Pilapil said. "In our defense, the mike ends up out of the box a little more. He can play in that space. Boum's really tall and long, so in terms of covering the middle of the field, he looks really big out there because he is. Again, it's kind of where he fits a bit better."

Wilson has developed into a strong leader and teacher, and who better to have on the field with Jock than a guy who completely understands the nuances of the position in any alignment, any game situation.

For Jock, it's akin to having a coach next to him. The team-first Wilson relishes that particular part of this switch.

"I love it. There's nothing better than being able to see some of the lightbulbs go off with these young guys when you're teaching them, going through tape with them," Wilson said. "It's really rewarding, and it does make the whole room really close together."

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