James Wilder, Jr. Visits Bucs
April 11th, 2014
FSU fullback and Bucs legacy James Wilder, Jr. visited his dad’s old team.
Joe’s a little late on this (no, a lot late) but it’s been a busy day away from the bustling JoeBucsFan.com headquarters.
This morning, Florida State all-purpose back James Wilder, Jr. announced on Twitter he was visiting the Bucs.
Joe has nothing more to add about the visit specifics than that. But Joe did spend some time with Wilder at the NFL Scouting combine six weeks ago. Wilder, the son of stud Bucs running back of the creamsicle days, James Wilder, might be a nice pick-up on the third day of the draft or, if he gets through the draft untouched, signed as an undrafted free agent.
The thing Joe enjoys about Wilder is that he can do just about everything. He can run inside as a fullback. He can run outside if needed. He can block, and enjoys blasting blitzing linebackers. Also, Wilder has pretty good hands as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
In other words, he is just about an every down back. Versatile. And he told Joe that should serve him well in the NFL.
“Definitely, definitely, being able to run, run block, pass block and being great to be able to catch out of the backfield as well, it definitely helps me out,” said Wilder, who is 6-2, 230. “You have guys who maybe can’t block because of their size or guys who can’t catch. Me being versatile, being able to do all of them [skills], it definitely has given me an advantage.”
Wilder battled injuries his final season at FSU, which is why his numbers are down. While he had but 563 yards as the Seminoles won the national title, Wilder racked up an impressive seven yards a carry. Not shabby at all.
Since FSU the past two years put, and will put, so many defensive players into the league, Wilder said going up against that talent has prepared him as best he could be for the NFL.
“We have a lot of great players, even from my freshman year, who were entering the draft from the defensive side of the ball,” Wilder said. “And [Florida State] coach [Jimbo] Fisher is the type of guy who likes to see people compete. He’s the guy who has us going ones-on-ones [first team offense vs. first team defense] all the time. So going against those guys definitely helped me out instead of just going against the scout teams or just going through the motions. Being able to compete against guys who are in the league now definitely gave me an edge.”
Bucs general manager Jason Licht loves to talk value in players. If he was ever looking to add to the already crowded Bucs backfield, Wilder wouldn’t be a bad addition, late.
To hear Wilder’s entire interview with reporters at the NFL Combine, click the orange button below, thanks to Joe’s friends at WDAE-AM 620.
April 11th, 2014 at 8:28 pm
His pop is ONE !!! of my all time Buc favorites…no thanks on Jr…
April 11th, 2014 at 8:34 pm
Chris Johnson would be a nice pickup as a #2 at the right price. Then we could use the draft pick towards a position of need like QB, WR or another defensive lineman.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:01 pm
My prediction: James Wilder, Jr. will go undrafted.
My prognosis: If the Bucs pick him up and convince him to play middle line backer as a project, he could become a good/maybe great NFL player. Longshot if he’s made up his mind that he is going to be a RB. Can’t blame the kid, I wanted to be just like my dad too!
April 11th, 2014 at 9:29 pm
I like a feel good story as much as the next guy but I just don’t see him contributing to this team.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:37 pm
Patrick Says:
April 11th, 2014 at 8:34 pm
What does this have to do with James Wilder Jr.?
And no, Chris Johnson would not be a nice pickup. Don’t need the headache.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:39 pm
That’s what he should have been. Don’t know if the NFL is a place to learn how to be a middle linebacker. He hasn’t played linebacker since high school.
Consider Joe intrigued only because he can block and catch.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:47 pm
RastaMon, I’ll do you one better: His pop IS my all time favorite Buc player and needs to be in the Ring of Honor immediately, and I’m not interested in Jr.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:52 pm
Hybrid FB in Jeff’s offense . Block and catch
April 11th, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Earnest Graham?
April 11th, 2014 at 10:01 pm
Would be a great as an Undrafted Special Teams Player / Fullback / Earnest Graham –
Legarrette Blount type
or as a Project LB
He Never should have been a RB/FB at FSU
Natural MLB
Fast enough to be in cover/Tampa 2 Defense
April 11th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Interesting comparison.
April 11th, 2014 at 10:57 pm
Ah hellz yeah dougie balls make him a full back that’s an idea. Jr. HAS to be a buc!
April 11th, 2014 at 11:12 pm
Wow…12 whole comments and no one has tried to redirect this to a Johnny Football thread. You are having a good day Joe. lol
April 11th, 2014 at 11:43 pm
buccinfan Says:
April 11th, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Earnest Graham?
Joe Says:
April 11th, 2014 at 10:19 pm
Earnest Graham?
Interesting comparison.
_________________________________________
Why? because he could play RB and FB …Earnest G was only 5’9″
James J.R. is 6’2″ ….they are nothing alike except maybe position.
…probably more like Zack Crockett who played for us and was also from FLA St.
April 11th, 2014 at 11:47 pm
I think Wilder Jr. will be drafted. Local kid, the connection to Bucs through his dad, sort of a retro thing like Lovie. James Wilder Sr. was a heck of a good player for the Bucs. I would like to see his son catch on with the Bucs.
April 12th, 2014 at 12:02 am
Maybe if we do draft Wilder he can play backup RB/FB and depth at strongside LB, where he would be subjected at the most to 40% of all defensive play calls. If there ever was a position for a learning curve it would be that one.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:52 am
Didn’t the seahawks change one of our later round RB picks into a linebacker at some point? Learning to play LB in the NFL isn’t entirely unheard of…
April 12th, 2014 at 8:07 am
Lots if value with this guy as a late pick or
free agent. The idiots saying “no thanks”
Need to educate themselves.
April 12th, 2014 at 8:20 am
Agree, he’s going to stay a RB.
Tedford supposedly didn’t throw to running backs much at Cal. Is having good hands highly valued?
April 12th, 2014 at 8:38 am
I see the Bucs picking him in the sixth round
April 12th, 2014 at 8:48 am
Agree on playing LB. He’s not a bad runner at all, but, he runs upright, and gets hurt often because of it. The backfield in Tallahassee was going to be more crowded this year. He was going to have less touches. I think that’s why he turned pro. Late rounds at best for him.
April 12th, 2014 at 10:01 am
Joe, you didn’t mention that James Wilder Jr. used to play offense and defense in high-school. He never left the field. This is probably the reason he excels in the blocking game.
April 12th, 2014 at 4:15 pm
Something to think about. Seems like he can do a lot of things well.
April 13th, 2014 at 7:52 am
James Wilder is still probably my all-time favorite Buc. He is one of the top reasons I started pulling for the Bucs back in 1983 from all the way up in DC.
His son is hurt a lot, didn’t run well at all at the Combine, and has had a few off-field concerns. Still, I love his dad and if he were there late, I wouldn’t mind bringing him in as a RB/FB.
April 13th, 2014 at 11:33 pm
That 7.0 ypc is even more impressive since a high percentage of his runs came in short yardage situations against stacked lines. As fun as it was to watch Alstott run for the Bucs, I’d much prefer to watch JWJ. MMA meets football.
Sadly, I think his running style will shorten his career, and also everyone that tries to tackle him.