Gang Green Nation
Taking a look at a young Jets wide receiver
Earlier this week, the New York Jets signed wide receiver Ontaria “Pokey” Wilson to a futures deal. Today, we look at Wilson in detail.
The 25-year old Wilson is listed at 6’1” and 175 pounds. He was undrafted out of Florida State in 2023. Having failed to make the Los Angeles Chargers roster as an undrafted free agent, he ended up in Canada, where he posted a thousand yard season last year with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Background
Wilson was originally recruited to Florida State as a defensive back, having played all three phases and been a three-star recruit coming out of high school. After redshirting his first season in 2017, he moved to wide receiver and started two games in 2018, although he ended the year with just four catches for 35 yards in 11 games.
He took on a bigger role in 2019 as he started seven of the first eight games before missing the rest of the season due to injury. He ended up with 22 catches for 239 yards and a touchdown.
2020 saw Wilson leading all receivers with 30 receptions for almost 400 yards and two scores. He also rushed for 32 yards on four carries.
In 2021 and 2022, Wilson was used as more of a big play threat. He had a career high five touchdown catches in 2021 as he started all 11 games and posted a career-high 495 yards in 2022. However, he wasn’t invited to the NFL scouting combine and went unselected in the 2023 draft.
The Chargers signed Wilson as an undrafted free agent, but he didn’t get off the third unit with them in camp and caught just one pass on his only target in preseason.
Having not received any further opportunities to sign for NFL teams, Wilson opted to head north and join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He caught eight passes for 85 yards in the first five games but then broke out with a 200-yard game as he started to get more opportunities due to injuries.
By the end of the year, Wilson had caught 71 passes for 1,026 yards and three touchdowns. He then caught seven passes in the postseason, including five for 99 yards in a losing effort in the Grey Cup Final.
Wilson was released from his contract with the Blue Bombers last week so that he could sign a futures deal with the Jets.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Wilson brings to the table, based on extensive research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Wilson is over six feet tall with an above average catch radius, but if his listed weight of 175 pounds is accurate he will probably need to bulk up at the NFL level. He weighed in at 181 at his pro day two years ago but only managed eight bench press reps.
Somewhat surprisingly, because he looks fast and dynamic on film, his pro day numbers were poor...
