Rookie Spotlight: Darren Wilson
Published on May 15, 2024 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Iowa Barnstormers News Release
DES MOINES, IA - After a decorated collegiate career in the Hawkeye State, wide receiver Darren Wilson wants to do everything in his power to help create team success as he begins his professional career with the Iowa Barnstormers.
Like many professional football players, Wilson grew up in a football family. Influenced by his father who played college football at Alabama A&M and is a member of the school's Hall of Fame, Wilson got his feet on the gridiron early in his life.
"My dad influenced me to play and I started playing when I was five years old," Wilson said. "I think just ever since then, I mean, year by year, I just fell in love with the game more and more."
Wilson lettered in both football and track and field in high school, but didn't put up crazy numbers to get the attention of major college scouts. He still found a way to play at the next level at Butler Community College in Kansas where he tallied 20 catches for 390 yards and three touchdowns.
He then transferred to Iowa State University in 2019. Wilson didn't see much action in his first season as a Cyclone, but he remained patient. In his junior season in 2021, Wilson finally got his chance to get on the field playing in all 13 games and making eight starts. He had 11 receptions for 110 yards and earned Second Team Academic All-Big 12 honors.
"At Iowa State playing in real hostile environments playing up in Iowa City that was nuts," Wilson said. "Just those big games I'd probably say playing at Oklahoma, playing at Iowa, playing at Texas, those are probably some of my favorite moments."
Wilson signed with the Iowa Barnstormers in early September and described how he built a strong early relationship with head coach Dave Mogensen. He said that sitting in the film room in the offseason, Coach showed him and the other rookies the ropes to adjust to the mechanics of the indoor game.
"This is probably one of the best teams I've been on in terms of chemistry, in terms of just people connecting and everybody's getting along," Wilson said. "Everybody's brought each other in and just tried to help each other and it's been tremendous in that aspect."
In Iowa's week 8 win against the Quad City Steamwheelers, Wilson had his best performance of the season, racking up four receptions for a team-leading 43 yards and two touchdowns. Overall, he is second on the team with a total of 202 yards and four touchdowns so far this season.
Wilson also expressed that what he loves most about being a part of the Barnstormers is that his teammates in the receiving room continue to encourage him no matter what, which has helped him the most as a rookie transitioning from the college to professional level.
"The chemistry and just the teammates," Wilson said. "We're here to play our best football and we're all on the same path chasing a driven goal."
Q: If you weren't playing football, what would you be doing?
A: "I would probably be in flight school to be a pilot. I haven't started at the moment but getting my private pilot's license and then going from there to get my commercial license, and hopefully start flying for airlines one day or flying for FedEx or UPS."
Q: What is your favorite football/sports movie?
A: "I would probably say The Longest Yard."
Q: What is your go-to karaoke song?
A: "Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton."
Q: What is your most used emoji
A: "The laughing crying one."
Q: What do you want Barnstormer fans to know about you?
A: "I want them to know that I'm doing everything I can to bring success to this team. I'm doing everything that I can in my power to bring success to any program that I'm associated with."
Indoor Football League Stories from May 15, 2024
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- Rookie Spotlight: Darren Wilson - Iowa Barnstormers
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