'This kid's going to be special:' New Patriots LB Mack Wilson always believed in Mac Jones

Mac Jones was a skinny, raw and some would say goofy freshman at the University of Alabama. When he joined the Crimson Tide, the young quarterback from Jacksonville was an afterthought with future NFL starters Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa already on the roster.

Jones redshirted his first year before completing just five passes the next season as a redshirt freshman. Not many people had expectations for this future first-round pick. Mack Wilson, however, was an exception. He was a sophomore linebacker in 2017 when Jones first came to Tuscaloosa. Wilson was one of the stars of the defense when Jones first saw the playing field the next year.

When Jones started to practice, Wilson told everyone – friends, family and teammates – this quarterback is going to be special. Not everyone believed him at that time, but after being traded to the Patriots this offseason, Wilson is thrilled to be teammates with Jones and see his prediction come true.

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“I tell a lot of people – I remember Mac when he was a pup. Just seeing how much he grew as a person and a player, it amazes me,” said Wilson. “Growing up, obviously when we were in college, I was telling everybody – friends and family – Mac Jones is going to be special. A lot of guys didn’t believe me. Even some of the guys that were on that team didn’t believe me. I just saw something in him. He’ll tell you himself. I saw something in him that made me (think) like, ‘hey, this kid is going to be special.’

“Even though I intercepted him a couple times in practice, I just would always tell him, ‘stay working, man and stay patient. Your time will come.’ That’s what he did. The rest was history. He’s just looking forward to Year 2 here and I just can’t wait to see his game develop and he goes to the next level.”

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Wilson hopes to revive his career with the Patriots

Wilson was asleep in bed with his 7-month-old son, Mack II, when his phone rang on March 15. Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry was on the other line and was quick to get to the point, ‘We’re trading you to the New England Patriots.’

Wilson, 24, was "super emotional" about the trade, which sent Chase Winovich to Cleveland.

After declaring for the draft early in 2019, the Browns selected him in the fifth round. He looked like a draft steal that rookie season, starting 14 games and finishing with 82 tackles, six pass breakups, an interception and a sack. After that promising start, however, Wilson’s playing time dwindled in Cleveland’s defense. He started eight games and finished with 39 tackles in 2020. Last year, he started six contests, finishing with 42 tackles.

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After digesting the trade news, Wilson turned to his girlfriend, Kayla Williams, and told her, ‘we’re on to new beginnings.’

“First off, it’s a blessing to be able to get a fresh start. I look at it like a second chance,” Wilson said. “I’m approaching it like a pro – just coming in with that mindset to work hard and earn everything that I can and build that trust with the rest of the guys who built the foundation here last season and the coaches. (I’m just) trying my best to contribute any way possible and just bring a little swagger to a locker room that already has swag.”

Due to Bill Belichick’s relationship with Alabama coach Nick Saban, the Patriots have a history of collecting Crimson Tide football players. Wilson joins fellow Alabama alumni Jones, Damien Harris, Christian Barmore and Anfernee Jennings on the roster.

Wilson hopes that the Patriots structure, which is similar to Alabama’s, will help revitalize his career.

“I feel like at this time in my career, that will really help me and take my game to the next level,” Wilson said.” I’m happy. I’m blessed to be a part of it. I just can’t wait to get things rolling.”

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Following the trade announcement, Wilson’s phone started buzzing. Former Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower, Harris and Jones all reached out to congratulate him on coming to New England.

He couldn’t help, but smile when Jones contacted him. It felt like yesterday when he was calling the Patriots ‘Mac No. 2’ and telling anybody who would listen he would be the next big quarterback to come out of Alabama. Following Jones’ rookie season, where he earned a Pro Bowl bid as an alternate, Wilson is thrilled to come to New England to join forces.

“After the news broke, Mac No. 2 reached out to me. That was kind of big – congratulating me and welcoming me to the team,” Wilson said. “The rest of the guys as well. I heard from Damien, Dont’a, Barmore, all the guys. They were super excited and super pumped for me. Just the day I stepped foot in the locker room, I got that vibe. It’s like a brotherhood welcoming me in with open arms.”

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Wilson is in line to play a big role in the Patriots defense. After the team failed to draft a linebacker last week, this 24-year-old looks like he could start. Wilson wouldn’t be the first under-tulied linebacker to come to New England and revitalize his career. It’s a story we’ve seen with Mike Vrabel, Rob Ninkovich and Kyle Van Noy.

If the Patriots defense is going to get better, they’ll need someone like Wilson, who can drop into coverage, to step up. Of course, the Pats also need Jones to take a major step next year as their franchise quarterback.

That is something Wilson says he saw a long time ago.

“He just had a swagger,” Wilson said. “You know a lot of guys come in that are freshmen are all uptight and things like that. Mac, he just had a swagger. That’s something that caught my eye. He made some big plays. He made some big throws. Even when he scrambles, he had a little juice in him. It was different – little small things that I saw that made me (go) like, ‘hey, I like Mac. He’s going to be good.’

“I believed in him and obviously, it’s coming true.”

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mac Jones made a big impression on Alabama teammate Mack Wilson