Buges had an eye on Wilson since October...

[Redskins1974]

Another W in Washington

Wilson, a Fall River High grad, picked by Redskins in NFL Draft's fifth round

John Ryan
Record Searchlight

Mark Wilson
April 26, 2004 — 2:07 a.m.
McARTHUR — Mark Wilson, a 1999 Fall River High School graduate and four-year starter for the University of California football team has a job to do: Help put the muscle back into the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.

With their third pick, the rebuilding Redskins took Wilson in the fifth round of the 2004 NFL Draft on Sunday, making him the 151st selection overall.

What made the Redskins take Wilson?

Maybe it was the 48 consecutive starts in college, showing uncanny durability or Wilson's all-Pacific 10 Conference honor his senior season in 2003.

Whatever "it" was, it was enough to attract the attention of legendary offensive line coach Joe Bugel and head coach Joe Gibbs. The duo returned to Washington this off-season to rebuild the struggling Redskins, who went 12-20 the last two seasons. The coaches guided Washington to three Super Bowls together, winning two. Gibbs eventually won his third in 1992.

Wilson, standing just under 6-foot-7 and tipping the scales at 317 pounds, figures to be a key piece in the transition between the pass-happy schemes of former Washington coach Steve Spurrier and the ball-control, run-oriented attack of Gibbs and Bugel.

During their first tenure with the Redskins, Gibbs and Bugel relied on their "Hogs," an affectionate nickname for the Redskins' traditionally hefty offensive front. The Redskins posted only one losing record in Gibbs' 12-year tenure.

"I talked to just about every offensive line coach at the combine," Wilson said, "And Bugel was by far my favorite."

The Wilson-Bugel relationship began earlier this year when Wilson's agent, Ethan Lock, hired the then-retired Bugel to help consult Lock's lineman prospects. Wilson and his family eventually met up with "Boss Hog" — Bugel himself — over breakfast following Cal's 52-49 win over Virginia Tech in the 2003 Insight.com Bowl in Phoenix.

"We were really excited to hear that Mark was going to get to work with a guy who really knows offensive line play like Joe (Bugel)." Wilson's stepfather, Jack Hayes said. "Then a couple of weeks later when we heard Joe took the Redskins job we thought, 'Oh no, there went a great opportunity for Mark'. When in fact, it worked out great because Joe had been watching film on Mark since October and according to Ethan, Joe was really impressed and really stood up and made his case for taking Mark."

The transition from college to the pros will come quickly for Wilson, who takes a plane in Oakland this Thursday in order to report to his first three-day mini-camp session Friday.

"Every team does it differently, but usually we will hammer out a contract by mid-June, early July." Lock said. "Bugel really likes him as a player and as a person, thinks he has a great upside and a lot of potential."

Washington plays only one game on the west coast this season, however, it's as close to home as possible — a Saturday, Dec. 18 afternoon game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Redskins will also kickoff the preseason Aug. 9 in the Hall of Fame game against the Denver Broncos in Canton, Ohio. ABC will air the game.

"They (Redskins) have had some good teams in the past with Gibbs," Wilson said, "And from what I've heard in talking to their coaches, everyone is pretty excited about the upcoming season. When you get people that seem that excited about the future, I think that's got to mean good things for you."

The Redskins selected University of Miami, Fla., safety Sean Taylor in the first round then selected tight end Chris ey of Utah State in the third round before selecting Wilson in the fifth round with their third pick of the draft. Washington also drafted Notre Dame offensive tackle Jim Molinaro.

"I remember watching Cal play before Mark went there." Wilson's mom, Terese Hayes said. "And you would see all the players (Cal) get off the bus before the game and you never think that he could be one of them. All of a sudden, seven years later he is leaving for the NFL, it's pretty amazing."


Monday, April 26, 2004