Less of Gophers' linebacker Wilson turns out to be more

If Damien Wilson thought he had NFL potential last year, the 6-2 Gophers middle linebacker knew he wasn't going to get there lumbering around at 255 pounds.

He committed himself to eating better and trimming down. But there was one obstacle to a better diet right in his apartment: his roommate and cousin David Cobb.

"Mainly the sweets," Wilson said. "Dave — he likes to eat cookies every night. I had to get away from him a little bit."

Cobb actually shed 10 pounds himself last offseason. He helped push his cousin to do the same, and now Wilson is a 242-pound force who leads the Big Ten with an average of 11 tackles per game.

Asked if Wilson has a chance to play in the NFL, coach Jerry Kill said, "He's got more than a chance; he'll play at the next level. I said that about Brock [Vereen], so I'll say that about Damien. As long as he stays healthy — that's a big part of everything."

Wilson sprained his left ankle at TCU on Sept. 13 but had it taped and returned to the game. His teammates were hardly surprised. Last season, he tore some knee meniscus in the Penn State game. The Gophers were off the next week, so Wilson had surgery and was back on the field for the next game against Wisconsin.

Adjusting to the Big Ten

As a junior, Wilson ranked 31st in the Big Ten with 6.0 tackles per game. He had arrived from Jones County Community College in Mississippi and filled a big hole at middle linebacker for the Gophers with solid if not spectacular play.

"It's hard on a junior college kid," defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys said. "When they transfer in, they've got to learn the system and learn how to play right away. Now, he's comfortable in what we're doing. He's as good as there is out there. I believe that."

Besides being thinner and quicker, Wilson has poured himself into film study, using the experience he's gained to play even faster.

"My confidence has gone through the roof," he said.

One play against San Jose State put it all on display. The Spartans trailed 17-7 early in the third quarter but drove to Minnesota's 5-yard line. On first-and-goal, tailback Jarrod Lawson took a handoff heading up the middle. Wilson met him at full speed. It wasn't just a tackle. Wilson jarred the ball loose and recovered the fumble.

The Gophers are tied for second nationally with 13 takeaways, and defensive tackle Cameron Botticelli used Wilson's theft as the prime example.

"Ball carrier's going down, and he makes a strip attempt when some other player might just be thinking about getting the guy to the ground," Botticelli said. "Damien Wilson and other players on our defense are actively trying to create turnovers."

Issuing a challenge

Wilson has taken on more leadership, too. He said the Gophers "were flat" in a 30-7 loss at TCU and challenged the defense to bring the heat against San Jose State.

"We definitely needed that punch in the mouth [at TCU]," he said. "We'd much rather have it earlier in the season than when we get into Big Ten play."

After the San Jose State game, reporters were waiting to quiz Wilson and Cobb, but Kill lingered for a moment to tease them. He asked, which family member had the better performance?

Wilson had nine tackles and the huge takeaway. Cobb had his second 200-yard rushing game of the young season. They shrugged and called it a tossup. Kill had to smile. Those two have been the team's leaders, and both had humble beginnings to their college careers.

Cobb arrived from Killeen, Texas, as a late addition to Kill's 2011 recruiting class and barely saw the field until last season, when he rushed for 1,202 yards.

Wilson went from his tiny hometown of Gloster, Miss. (pop. 960), to Alcorn State, where he spent one year playing defensive end before transferring to junior college.

"I remember at Alcorn, he had a great freshman season," Cobb said. "He played D-end, had a couple sacks, wore a big ugly No. 90. I remember talking to him; he just wanted to go to a bigger school. And we're just lucky as a program that he came here."