Toast of the Coast: Wilson a force for mighty Myrtle Beach defense

Daquarius Wilson pauses for moment. He seems unsure of the answer.

The Myrtle Beach football program has placed numerous players in college football’s highest ranks. Some have flirted with S.C. high school records. Others earned name recognition early in their careers.

So, is Wilson – one of the most reliable Seahawks and this season’s Toast of the Coast Defensive Player of the Year – worthy of being considered part of that elite group?

“I think so,” Wilson said, almost in the form of a question. “At the same time, those guys have more opportunities than I did have. I worked with the time I was given to be a Seahawk.”

What isn’t debatable is what Wilson did in his short varsity career at Myrtle Beach. After transferring back to the beach from Carolina Forest as a junior, the safety developed into one of the best defenders on the Grand Strand. As a senior, he was selected to the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas after piling up 101 tackles, 19 of which went for a loss, four interceptions, four sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. He was versatile, playing free safety, strong safety and linebacker on defense, as well as some tight end on the other side of the ball.

Wilson also became a vocal leader despite the fact that he was on the varsity squad for just two years.

“I think that’s always been me. Stepping into this program, that’s how I felt about it,” Wilson said. “I felt it was my rite. Him being my teammate, him being my brother, it was right. I don’t think it was a switch that turned on and said it’s my time to lead.

“Plenty of guys disagreed. They thought I was overdoing it. At the end of the day, we shook it off.”

It was an aspect of his game that stood out to coach Mickey Wilson almost as much as the player’s high-octane hits and Johnny-on-the-spot aptitude. In the team’s victory over national power Byrnes in September, DaQuarius Wilson tallied seven tackles and an interception against a team that would go on to win the Class AAAA, Division I championship.

“I think especially early on in the year, it jumped out on film that he was making a lot of big plays for us,” Mickey Wilson said. “When we went up to Byrnes and beat those guys, he had a tremendous ballgame. That was his coming-out party. He really put on a show that night.

“He’s one of those kids who has a knack for making big plays and being in the right place at the right time.”

It’s a quality that has yet to attract much attention from college coaches. With signing day quickly approaching, DaQuarius Wilson is yet to have an official offer from any school, big or small.

Daquarius Wilson, although, isn’t taking the lack of interest to heart.

“I believe that my time will come whenever the right colleges come,” he said. “Maybe, it’s because most colleges are looking for more size, more athleticism. That’s life sometimes; you have to roll with the punches. It might not be Florida, Alabama, but free education is key. It definitely seems odd. But at the same time, it’s humbling.”

The recruiting process, as frustrating as it has been, can’t take away from what Wilson accomplished at Myrtle Beach, especially during his senior season.

He established himself as a star player worthy of praise from opposing coaches and players. And he did so in a relatively short amount of time.

“He’s just a kid who always works hard,” Mickey Wilson said. “He shows up and gets after it. He’s just a tremendous kid. He’s worked to be a great football player. There’s no doubt about that.”