Preston Wilson Brushing Up on Video With Whataburger by His Side

STILLWATER – When Oklahoma State offensive line coach Charlie Dickey first laid eyes on Preston Wilson, he had in his mind an idea. He saw Wilson, a smart, big and strong, but very twitchy (athletic) for a big offensive lineman playing center. Since then, Wilson has started 15 games. As a redshirt freshman he started four of the final six games playing some tackle and some guard. Last season he started eight games. The Tulsa game he was the right guard. The other seven games he started at right tackle. Finally, this season as a red-shirt junior he has started the first three games at center.

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Wilson is quick at center and is already to face an opponent and the snap is barely gone.

As the center, Wilson, 6-5 and 295-pounds out of Argyle, Texas makes the pass protection, and the run block calls for the offensive line. He is more than trustworthy, Wilson is absolute in his preparation, which he starts before any of his offensive line teammates.

“So, film every week that is something that is huge for me,” Wilson said deliberately. “Every Monday morning, I go up to the film room and spend a couple of hours and do a good scouts study of the week.”

But Wilson doesn’t go alone. He comes prepared. It takes a lot of nourishment and power to block players like Baylor’s Siaki Ika.

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Ika is a big man!

“I bring me a Whataburger cheeseburger up there and get after it,” Wilson explained. Unless of course he’s real early. “You know if I have to get there early, then I’ll bring two breakfast burgers and a taquito. If it’s around lunch time then I’ll show up with a triple meat Whataburger, bacon, some fries, and a nice sweet tea. But I look for some hints, some nice keys like where my guy be lining up, what are his pass rush moves, do they slant into gaps, what kind of stunts can I key on. (It’s) basic stuff that coach is going to show us but that I want to know going into the meeting exactly what they are going to do. Film is a huge part of my week of preparation.”

Film and Whataburger. This might be where someone from Whataburger realizes that Wilson might be a darn good NIL prospect to tout the strengths of Whataburgers when it comes to filling up offensive linemen and helping them study those big nastys on the defensive line.

Like I said earlier, Wilson will be seeing two of the bigger and bad inside defensive linemen in the Big 12. Ika, who is 6-4 and 358-pounds, and Player, who is 6-1 and 299-pounds, are both outstanding. Player has six tackles with 2.5 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks. Ika has five tackles so far. It’s not their tackles or stats, but it’s the push and the disruptive force they cause helping teammates to make plays.

“Those are two great players, phenomenal players, and I’ve played them both before,” Wilson referenced both Ika and Player. “Nothing but respect for those guys, both phenomenal players and I’m looking forward to playing them again just like they’re looking forward to playing me. It’s a good week to kind of figure things out and get the ball rolling. It’s going to be a fun week.”

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer

Wilson in the middle of that offensive line.

Baylor is primarily a four-down front defense, but they will break some from that and go three down and even run a 50 front with a “bear” concept. You have to be ready.

“It just depends on the week and what plays we are running. What we have schemed up,” answered Wilson when asked which front he prefers. “For this week, I’m down to see anything and you really can’t pick one or the other because You could be playing for one thing, and they come out in the other. You’ve got to be ready for both in the game plans for the week. It’s no big deal.”

Just as long as there is a Whataburger by his side as he studies then I think Wilson is okay.