Jireh Wilson

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-3
Weight:
201
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Jacksonville
High School:
Northside
Major:
Health Fitness Specialist

Prior to 2022 season: Entering his fifth year with the program and is expected to open the season at one of the safety spots … Three-year lettermen who has appeared in 36 games making 16 starts (9/’20, 7/’21) … Tallied 142 career tackles (76 solo) … Registered 11.5 TFLs (-55 yards) with 6.0 sacks (-42 yards) … Has forced three fumbles (all in 2020), recovered one fumble, credited with seven pass breakups and three quarterback hurries … Booked at least one stop in 30 of 36 games (multiple 27 times) … Tallied double-digit stops in a game three times (13/Georgia State ‘20, 10/SMU ‘20, 10/Marshall ’21) … Named NFF Bill Dooley Chapter Scholar-Athlete in July of 2022 … A 2022 Preseason Phil Steele's Football Preview AAC Third-Team selection and an Athlon Sports AAC Fourth Team pick.

2022: Named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 24) following his performance against UCF ... Tallied the second interception of his career in the fourth quarter against No. 13 NC State, returning it for 34 yards, while also booking a pair of tackles (one solo) ... Was credited with a pass breakup versus Old Dominion ... Tallied three tackles (all assisted) in the win over Campbell ... Posted six tackles (three solo) against Navy ... Logged two tackles (one solo), including half of a tackle for loss versus South Florida ... Earned his first start of the season at Tulane ... Notched three tackles (one solo) ... Booked four tackles (two solo) in the quadruple-overtime triumph over Memphis ... Was credited with a pass breakup ... Posted three tackles (one solo) in the win over UCF ... Notched an interception and a fumble recovery ... Registered seven tackles (six solo) at BYU ... Logged three tackles (one solo) at Cincinnati ... Notched his third interception of the season.

2021: Played in all 12 games making seven starts … Tallied 44 stops (18 solo) … Booked at least one tackled in 11 contests (multiple 11 times) … Credited with third career double-digit stop at Marshall (10) … Credited with 4.0 TFLs (-27 yards) which included 2.5 sacks (-26 yards) … Registered TFLs against Marshall (0.5/0 yards), Charleston Southern (1.0/-6 yards), Tulane (0.5/-9 yards), and Houston (2.0/-12 yards) … Sacks came against Charleston Southern, Tulane and Houston … Picked off first career pass versus Tulane as time expired in the first half … Credited with four pass breakups (two vs. Temple) and one quarterback hurry.

2020: Started all nine games during the pandemic-shortened season … Tallied 70 stops (42 solo) with 6.5 TFLs (-26 yards) and 3.5 sacks (-16 yards) … Forced a team-best three fumbles and recovered one returning it 39 yards against SMU … Booked three or more stops in all nine games with a career-best 13 at Georgia State (10 solo) … Also had 10 stops against SMU (six solo) … Credited with sacks against USF (2.0/-6 yards) and Tulsa (1.5/-10 yards) ... Tallied career-best two TFLs twice in a game (GSU/-3 yards, USF/-8 yards) ... Registered at least a half TFL in five games (0.5/ UCF, 2.0/Georgia State, 2.0/South Florida, 1.5/Tulsa, 0.5/SMU).

2019: Experienced action in all 12 games as a top reserve at the free safety position and special teams stalwart … Credited with 28 tackles (16 solo) … Posted at least one stop in 10 contests and recorded multiple hits on seven occasions … Booked a season-high six tackles (5 solo) in prime-time nationally-televised matchup against Temple at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium … Also logged a pair of half TFLs (Old Dominion, UCF) and a quarterback pressure (USF) … Other notable outings came against UCF (5 tackles), Tulsa (5), USF (3), Old Dominion (2), SMU (2) and Connecticut (2) … Recorded first collegiate stop – a solo hit – in home opener vs. Gardner-Webb before following with other single tackles in successive weeks against Navy and William & Mary … Collected 16 stops on rushes, 11 on pass plays and one on kickoff return coverage (special teams) … Made 17 tackles (2.8 tpg) during the second half of the season after tallying 11 during the first six outings (1.8) … Enjoyed a mid-season three-game stretch vs. Owls, Knights and Bulls that resulted in a combined 14 stops – an average of 4.7 per outing.

2018: Played in the last three games of the season (Connecticut, Cincinnati and NC State), thus securing redshirt status as a true freshman … Did not record any defensive or special teams statistics against the Huskies, Bearcats or Wolfpack … Moved by previous coaching staff to a linebacking position … Contributed efforts as a reliable and productive scout team performer before elevation to the Pirates’ travel roster.

High School: Versatility enabled noteworthy production and contributions to Northside’s offensive, defensive and special teams units for coach Kendrick Pollock … Efforts were recognized with an invitation to represent North Carolina as a defensive back in the prestigious Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas (all-star contest) … On defense, tallied four interceptions, four forced fumbles and returned two of three fumble recoveries for touchdowns as a team captain … Offensively, specifically at the wide receiver position, led the Monarchs with 40 catches for 649 yards and 11 touchdowns … Performance of significance was a seven-reception, 134-yard outing during a 49-22 triumph over White Oak, which included scoring grabs of 40, 17, 11 and six yards … Also turned in 15 rushing yards on three carries and amassed 254 return yards on punts (196) and kickoffs (58) … Returned one punt back for a touchdown … Helped Northside to a 6-6 overall record, a fourth-place standing in the Coastal 3A Conference and a first-round NCHSAA Playoff appearance in 2017 … Was a first-team all-state, all-area and all-conference pick as a junior after netting 582 yards and seven TDs on 31 receptions … Tallied 35 stops (29 solo), seven interceptions, including one returned for a score, along with four forced fumbles and three recoveries as a junior … Participated in the 2017 Nike Combine and attended ECU camps during the summer … Officially committed to the Pirates on June 19, 2017 … Also offered by Charlotte, Old Dominion and Vanderbilt, while Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia and Wake Forest displayed considerable interest … Earned additional letters on the basketball floor and was part of a NHS state 2A championship team (30-0) … Outstanding student who earned selection to Northside’s Principal List.

Personal: Full name is Jireh Nazir Wilson … Born at Beaufort, S.C. … Son of Daina Wilson and Chris McDougal … Graduated in May 2022 with a health fitness specialist degree ... Earned ECU Honor Roll designated for classroom work during both semesters of the 2018-19 academic year (fall, spring) before being named to the Dean’s List (2020 spring semester) … Lived in Japan during youth where parents, who both serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, were stationed … Lists all sports (in general) as hobbies of choice … First name is pronounced JAI-ruh.