BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) – David Wilson has so many skills, Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer couldn’t bear to redshirt him, even with two All-ACC caliber tailbacks ahead of him.
The sophomore has made that decision pay off, not only with his play on the field, but also with his infectious smile and zany antics that keep everyone loose.
“In second grade, my teacher said that I was like a wiggle worm in hot ashes,” he said Tuesday, chuckling as he talked. “Since I was little I always had a lot of energy.”
Perhaps it’s the sight of him hanging from the crossbar of the goal post while the Hokies’ kickers are working during a walk-through, or the freelance band directing after a game.
Whatever it is, the Hokies have noticed.
“Just you look at him and wonder where in the world is he getting all his energy from,” senior tight end Andre Smith said. “There’s plenty of times in practice where he might, instead of running 10 or 20 yards, he might run 80 yards all the way down the field and run all the way back. At times you kind of look at him like a little kid with too much energy.”
It might be a problem, except the Danville native can play. He led the team by running a 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds, and was fourth in the ACC in the indoor and outdoor triple jump.
He leads the Hokies with 13 touches that covered 20 yards or more, although all but four came on kickoff returns. He returned one of those 92 yards for a touchdown, had a 68-yard scoring run and is averaging 6.6 yards per touch when running the ball or catching a pass.
Talking about Wilson’s antics makes Beamer smile himself, and sometimes laugh.
“He makes me tired looking at him,” Beamer said. “I tell you what, he has fun. Out there in practice he has fun. He enjoys life. He’s got a great outlook. … He’s one of a kind.”
There have been times, Wilson said, when he’s been misunderstood, the smile on his face construed as a sign that he’s goofing off. He has no problem setting the record straight.
“My high school coach used to be like, `David, get focused,’ and I was like, `I am focused,”’ he said. “And some of my teammates, captains, when I was an underclassman, they’d see me smiling when we were about to play and they’d say, `David. Get serious. We’re about to play a football game.’ And I told them – this was my exact quote: `I like playing football, so I’m going to smile when I do it.’ I also told them, `When we go to practice, we’re not uptight and tense, so I don’t think I should be all uptight and tense for a game.”’
Eventually, coaches have realized that he is focused, but just having a blast.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him when he’s not smiling, happy, outgoing,” Beamer said.
And the fun ride continues after a game, too.
When the Hokies beat Central Michigan 45-21 on Sunday for their fourth consecutive victory, with Wilson contributing a 68-yard scoring run, he headed with the team to over by the band for the playing of the alma mater. While others watched, he played band director.
In reality, he was flailing his arms without rhyme or reason.
“In middle school, I played the clarinet in the band, so I’ve seen my teacher do it,” he said, laughing like he was about to say something outlandish. “But I really don’t think that person – no offense to anybody that really likes music – I really don’t think that person has a real role. I used to think he was like conducting the notes, making the notes in the air so they would know what to play, but I found out they just read the music off the screen.”
He was joking, of course.
Even when he’s playing football, that’s what he does.
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