Wilson flips to USC

Regardless of what happens on signing day, the Junipero Serra-USC connection will continue in 2015. Caleb Wilson will enroll as a preferred walk-on at tight end.

Wilson was previously committed to Old Dominion as a quarterback. But this move was not unforeseen. USC had been in contact with Wilson all year. But USC's coaches really got interested after the end of the football season.

"I was committed to Old Dominion as a quarterback in early January," Wilson said. "My film started going off a little more and I was at the B2G All Star game. I was performer of the week and on the front page of Rivals and stuff like that. It kind of opened up some eyes for Coach Sark (Steve Sarkisian) and Coach (Clay) Helton. We started talking a little bit more and they feel like I could fit their system as far as tight end goes. And they felt like I could help the team not just because my dad (Chris Wilson) is a coach there. They feel like if my dad wasn't there, I'd still be one of the guys they'd come after. It kind of all just fell in to place and worked out. I just saw an opportunity to play over there. It was a good chance to be close to home, to play for my dad and there are a lot of Serra guys over there."

So Wilson called up coaches at both USC and Old Dominion to inform them of his flip.

"I thought it was the right fit," Wilson said. "So today I called Coach Sark and I called Coach (Ron) Whitcomb, the head quarterbacks coach at Old Dominion. I thanked him for the opportunity, for all he's done and for sticking with me throughout the whole process. But I told him that USC was a better fit for me. So I de-committed and thanked him for everything. They understood. Then I coach Sarkisian and coach Helton and told them I want to come there. They were happy about it so I'm excited about it and to be a Trojan."

His family is excited for his decision as well. His father is USC's defensive line coach. And the Wilson's live in Los Angeles' South Bay, which is close to campus.

"My dad wasn't unhappy about it with Old Dominion," Wilson said. "He was happy fro me regardless of where I went. But I think he's excited for me to be able to play for him and being able to see me more often. Being grown and being an adult is so close. So I think he's very excited as well as my mom for me to be able to be close to home. I think they're both excited and happy about it."

But what about the position flip? Wilson was originally a quarterback at Junipero Serra before moving to tight end. When he committed to Old Dominion, he was excited to throw the ball again.

Wilson admits that he was hesitant to play tight end at first. But after performing well with little experience, he's excited.

"After the season at the B2G game, I understood that I could play with anybody at tight end," Wilson said. "I actually kind of doubted myself at a time. I didn't know if I could do it. I ended up doing very well at the end of the season. Everyone I talked to said my ceiling was very high at the tight end spot because I had just started playing it and I had eight touchdowns in four games. And I thought about numbers. You stick with one quarterback all game. If you're not the guy, you're on the sidelines. Tight end, there are so many different opportunities to be on the field and I thought I could do well at it."

The way the Trojans use tight ends also made a commitment to USC more appealing.

"In USC's system, they flank the tights end out, let them stand up and they actually attack down field," Wilson said. "You don't see them down blocking in the run game all game. I just thought it was a good fit for me. I talked to my dad and my dad is definitely not a guy to beat around the bush. He believes I can play at a high level at tight end. He thought I could do it at quarterback too but it just ended up being the right fit. I just felt like it all came into place and I thought it would be a good spot for me."