NFL Draft Diamonds Prospect Interview: Tru Wilson, RB, Northern Colorado University
Student-Athlete Profile
- Prospect Name: Tru Wilson
- University: Northern Colorado University
- Position: RB
- Class: Graduate Student
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 200 LBS
- Hometown: Warren, MI
- Previous School: University of Michigan
- Twitter: @T_Wilson003
2019 Statistics (University of Michigan)
- GP: 10
- RUSH ATT: 44
- RUSH YDS: 221
- YDS/ATT: 5.02
- YDS/GP: 22.10
- LONG: 39
- TD: 1
You’re headed into your first-year at Northern Colorado after four years at the University of Michigan. During your graduate transfer process, what made Northern Colorado the right school for you to continue both your academic and athletic career?
They made me feel like I was coming to a place where I was genuinely wanted as a person and a football player. As a walk-on before, I’ve never had a real recruiting process where that has been the case. The coaches care about their players. Obviously, Coach McCaffrey is a well-known figure in the football world and I trust him to lead this football team. They gave me the best chance to get to the NFL. Academically, I am in a degree field that is assisting me in something that I might want to do in the future so it was a win-win.
What degree are you pursuing?
I’m in a coaching master’s at Northern Colorado.
With that degree, what would be your ideal role after your playing career is over?
I have an interest in what I want to do, but I’m not 100% certain about what it is. I love coaching and I even use the freshman running backs to practice all the time. We do film sessions and all that together, and I enjoy it. My mind is set on reaching the NFL and having a career.
You mentioned Coach McCaffrey. What did you know about him before your recruitment?
I played with Dylan (McCaffrey) during the last few years and built a relationship with him. So I knew they were a good family and his football career speaks for itself. He has a winning mentality and finds ways to win games.
We’re currently in December 2020. With the season starting in February, what has been the biggest adjustment, regarding preparation, both as a team and an individual?
It has just been overcoming the adversity of COVID-19. We have a whole new offensive and defensive staff, so everybody is trying to learn the playbook and build relationships. We cannot do as much as we wanted but we are making the most of it. Personally, this is the longest I’ve gone without playing a football game in my life so I used this time to transform my body by lifting and eating right. There is no excuse to not be ready for the season.
Is there a particular food that you’ve given up to help transform your body that was especially tough to do?
No, I haven’t given anything up. I’ve learned a lot about nutrition and exercise that has helped me a lot. My trainer, Amir Rad, has changed my life in a way and I learned a lot from him. I learned that I can eat the foods I want on certain days in moderation and I have to hold myself accountable for what I do and eat.
As a running back, what would you consider to be the most important trait in order to have success?
I feel I am a very balanced running back that understands the game really well. I try to take things that I see from a lot of great running backs I’ve seen and add my own style to them. I don’t feel like I run like anybody but I have a mentality where I find ways to win and can’t lose.
What’s playing in your headphones before a game?
A lot of reggae; then right before the game YoungBoy and Young Thug, but we’ll have to see what works at UNC.
Who is your athletic, and non-athletic, hero?
My mom and dad. They’ve been through it all and I go to them for everything. I’ve been a part of their life since they were teens and our family has earned everything we have gotten.
If your life was a book, what would the title be?
The book I’m reading right now by Jocko Willink, “Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win.”
Who is the best player in the NFL?
Russell Wilson and Christian McCaffrey.
Where is the best place to eat in Greeley?
Cafe Mexicali.
How have athletics helped shaped you into the man you are today?
I would say being a walk-on in athletics more specifically.
The last question; is there such thing as a bad-win or a good-loss?
I would say you learn something from every game you play. Every win is a win and every loss is a loss.
