Photo by: David Stluka
Lucas: Wilder back and ready to help in “any way”
October 21, 2022 | Football, Mike Lucas
Former Badger back in volunteer role
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – When the news broke, Collin Wilder was vacationing with high school friends in Greece. While touring the ancient capital of Athens and the beautiful island of Mykonos – reminiscing about their days together in Katy, Texas – they were basically unplugged to the outside world.
The trip was a good way to take Wilder's mind off football. A fall without football. Months earlier, the former Wisconsin safety had reconciled with the fact that he was done playing the sport that he loved because of neck and spine injuries suffered in the 2021 regular season finale at Minnesota.
"I'm 100 percent at peace," said the 24-year-old Wilder, who announced his retirement in late June. "Obviously, you still miss the game. You still miss playing. You see things out there and you kind of get a little adrenaline rush on what you could have done if you had been out there.
"But I'm at peace because I gave this game everything I had. I didn't waste a day here. I didn't waste a day in my playing career. I have no regrets … if this is what God intended my journey to be … I did give it my all. There were no what ifs."
And yet, throughout that spring, the NFL dream was still alive, though flickering. To that end, Wilder had begun to have conversations with then UW head coach Paul Chryst on a potential future in coaching. Chryst assured him that whenever his playing career was over, he'd have a spot for him here.
If there was a Wilder epiphany, it came during a weekend in Green Bay. He was visiting a friend and teammate, Mike Gregoire, whose dad, Todd, was the school's all-time leader in field goals for decades until Rafael Gaglianone came around and bumped Todd Gregoire to No. 2 on the career list.
"We were sitting around the fire, having small talk, and that's when it hit me, I said, 'Why am I trying to keep playing with this neck injury? I'm done,'" Wilder recalled. "After that weekend in Green Bay, I drove back to Madison and walked into coach Chryst's office and told him I was done playing."
Chryst advised him to take the 2022 season off. Go home. See family. Come back in January. A plan was in place. Wilder approached it accordingly. He relocated to Houston and moved in with his parents – occupying his same bedroom from high school, the one filled with trophies and plaques.
As the founder and CEO of "Grit Factory" merchandise, Wilder knows the value of money. And began saving his in preparation for a move back to campus after the first of the year. When invited to travel over to Greece, he didn't hesitate, "I had the fall off, I had the time …" Off he went to Greece.
That's where Wilder was when the news broke. Wisconsin had dismissed Chryst and named defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as interim head coach. Before leaving for the states, Wilder traded texts with Chryst. "I gave it a couple of days to try and figure out the right words to say to him," he said.
Wilder also reached out to Leonhard. "When all of this went down when I was in Greece," he said, "I made the decision that as soon as I got home, I'm going to spend the last couple of days with my family and I'm going to pack my bags and come up here (Madison). That was the plan.
"I wouldn't have come if coach Leonhard didn't say yes."
Wilder explained the situations to his folks – "I enjoyed spending time there and expected to be there for Thanksgiving and Christmas" – packed two duffel bags and showed up in town last week. He moved in with two UW graduate assistants: John Richter and Keller Chryst, the nephew of Paul Chryst.
"I just felt like I could bring some life and a little morale around here," Wilder rationalized. "I'm not saying I could turn things around or anything. I'm just saying I feel like the guys need a little bit of juice and I just wanted to try and help in any way that I could … I'm not getting paid for it."
Wilder is a volunteer staffer with the program. There are limitations on what he can do. But his energy and enthusiasm and yes, his grittiness, are still limitless, the characteristics that defined his play for three seasons in the Wisconsin secondary after transferring from the University of Houston in 2018.
"I love it here – this is my favorite place in the world," enthused Wilder, who has both his undergraduate degree (Communications Arts) and Master's (Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis) from Wisconsin. "I felt led to be here right now."
&&&
Last October, Wilder was one of the emotional catalysts in Wisconsin's stunning 30-13 win at Purdue, the 15th consecutive victory in the series and ninth straight in West Lafayette. The last time the Boilermakers beat the Badgers anywhere was October 18, 2003 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Ben Jones' 18-yard field goal with three seconds left was the punctuation mark on a 26-23 decision in which Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton completed 38 of 55 passes for 411 yards. Wide receiver Taylor Stubblefield had 16 catches and John Standeford had 14 (combining for 314 yards).
Leonhard was one of the starters in the UW secondary and finished with five tackles. He also had a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that lifted the Badgers into a 23-23 tie. For Leonhard, then a junior, it was his second punt return TD in three weeks, and third of his career.
What was so stunning about last season's win over the Boilers at Ross-Aide Stadium was the way it played out for the Badgers. Graham Mertz attempted just eight passes (5-of-8 for 52 yards) while tailbacks Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen combined on 39 carries for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
Wisconsin was 1-of-11 on third down. But along with that rushing attack, Leonhard's defense carried the day with six sacks, 10 TFLs, five takeaways. Lee Chenal was unblockable. He had 5.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. Wilder was the ultimate disrupter. He had a forced fumble and recovery and an interception.
It was one of Aidan O'Connell's three picks. He didn't throw another one the final five games of the regular season. O'Connell is back for a sixth year. And he's better than ever. He leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (325) and ranks No. 1 in career completion percentage (.679) at Purdue.
"He's a smart player and playing better and better," Wilder said of the former walk-on QB. "Last year's game was one of the most fun in my career – and it wasn't even because of the two turnovers (he forced) – it was just the way the guys rallied and came together. I remember it being a vital game."
Saturday's game would fall into the same category. On so many different fronts for Wisconsin.
"This is where leaders have to step up," Wilder said. "This is where true leadership rises."
But, in this context, there's only so much Wilder can do. Or say. "It's not my team anymore," he conceded. "Last year, along with a couple of the other seniors, this was my team to control. This was my responsibility. Well, it's not my responsibility now.
"I don't want them to think that I'm trying to live in the past. Or trying to relive my glory days. I'm just one voice in the guy's ears. I try to show love and support. I just try to bring energy – making sure these guys are loving being in the building. I love being around them. It's not forced."
Wilder has stayed in touch with some former teammates, including safety Scott Nelson, who's on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. They talk just about every day. And they're both understanding of what the program is going through in this transition, players and coaches alike. But …
"We have to find a way to win games – that's the reality of it," Wilder said. "We have to be realistic with ourselves on how we can change habits to eventually changes results. Being in this perspective now, as a volunteer staff member, you realize how much power the players have.
"Players have so much power to make change and turns things around. Coaches can say all they want. But it's up to the players to make that decision to come together … That's their challenge."
Wilder was mentored by his position coach, Leonhard. He has the utmost faith in him. "He's not only great with X's and O's, but he's a great communicator with the players," Wilder said. "His confidence is contagious. He's level-headed all the time. That's what we need right now.
"We need somebody who's level-headed in the chaos – making sure everybody knows it's going to be ok. That's him. That's the way he is. That's the way he carries himself. The confidence level. The natural charisma. It is contagious. And I believe that he is the right man to step in and calm the storm."
Leonhard had his back. And now Wilder is grateful to be in a position to return the favor.
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. – When the news broke, Collin Wilder was vacationing with high school friends in Greece. While touring the ancient capital of Athens and the beautiful island of Mykonos – reminiscing about their days together in Katy, Texas – they were basically unplugged to the outside world.
The trip was a good way to take Wilder's mind off football. A fall without football. Months earlier, the former Wisconsin safety had reconciled with the fact that he was done playing the sport that he loved because of neck and spine injuries suffered in the 2021 regular season finale at Minnesota.
"I'm 100 percent at peace," said the 24-year-old Wilder, who announced his retirement in late June. "Obviously, you still miss the game. You still miss playing. You see things out there and you kind of get a little adrenaline rush on what you could have done if you had been out there.
"But I'm at peace because I gave this game everything I had. I didn't waste a day here. I didn't waste a day in my playing career. I have no regrets … if this is what God intended my journey to be … I did give it my all. There were no what ifs."
And yet, throughout that spring, the NFL dream was still alive, though flickering. To that end, Wilder had begun to have conversations with then UW head coach Paul Chryst on a potential future in coaching. Chryst assured him that whenever his playing career was over, he'd have a spot for him here.
If there was a Wilder epiphany, it came during a weekend in Green Bay. He was visiting a friend and teammate, Mike Gregoire, whose dad, Todd, was the school's all-time leader in field goals for decades until Rafael Gaglianone came around and bumped Todd Gregoire to No. 2 on the career list.
"We were sitting around the fire, having small talk, and that's when it hit me, I said, 'Why am I trying to keep playing with this neck injury? I'm done,'" Wilder recalled. "After that weekend in Green Bay, I drove back to Madison and walked into coach Chryst's office and told him I was done playing."
Chryst advised him to take the 2022 season off. Go home. See family. Come back in January. A plan was in place. Wilder approached it accordingly. He relocated to Houston and moved in with his parents – occupying his same bedroom from high school, the one filled with trophies and plaques.
As the founder and CEO of "Grit Factory" merchandise, Wilder knows the value of money. And began saving his in preparation for a move back to campus after the first of the year. When invited to travel over to Greece, he didn't hesitate, "I had the fall off, I had the time …" Off he went to Greece.
That's where Wilder was when the news broke. Wisconsin had dismissed Chryst and named defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard as interim head coach. Before leaving for the states, Wilder traded texts with Chryst. "I gave it a couple of days to try and figure out the right words to say to him," he said.
Wilder also reached out to Leonhard. "When all of this went down when I was in Greece," he said, "I made the decision that as soon as I got home, I'm going to spend the last couple of days with my family and I'm going to pack my bags and come up here (Madison). That was the plan.
"I wouldn't have come if coach Leonhard didn't say yes."
Wilder explained the situations to his folks – "I enjoyed spending time there and expected to be there for Thanksgiving and Christmas" – packed two duffel bags and showed up in town last week. He moved in with two UW graduate assistants: John Richter and Keller Chryst, the nephew of Paul Chryst.
"I just felt like I could bring some life and a little morale around here," Wilder rationalized. "I'm not saying I could turn things around or anything. I'm just saying I feel like the guys need a little bit of juice and I just wanted to try and help in any way that I could … I'm not getting paid for it."
Wilder is a volunteer staffer with the program. There are limitations on what he can do. But his energy and enthusiasm and yes, his grittiness, are still limitless, the characteristics that defined his play for three seasons in the Wisconsin secondary after transferring from the University of Houston in 2018.
"I love it here – this is my favorite place in the world," enthused Wilder, who has both his undergraduate degree (Communications Arts) and Master's (Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis) from Wisconsin. "I felt led to be here right now."
&&&
Last October, Wilder was one of the emotional catalysts in Wisconsin's stunning 30-13 win at Purdue, the 15th consecutive victory in the series and ninth straight in West Lafayette. The last time the Boilermakers beat the Badgers anywhere was October 18, 2003 at Camp Randall Stadium.
Ben Jones' 18-yard field goal with three seconds left was the punctuation mark on a 26-23 decision in which Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton completed 38 of 55 passes for 411 yards. Wide receiver Taylor Stubblefield had 16 catches and John Standeford had 14 (combining for 314 yards).
Leonhard was one of the starters in the UW secondary and finished with five tackles. He also had a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter that lifted the Badgers into a 23-23 tie. For Leonhard, then a junior, it was his second punt return TD in three weeks, and third of his career.
What was so stunning about last season's win over the Boilers at Ross-Aide Stadium was the way it played out for the Badgers. Graham Mertz attempted just eight passes (5-of-8 for 52 yards) while tailbacks Chez Mellusi and Braelon Allen combined on 39 carries for 289 yards and three touchdowns.
Wisconsin was 1-of-11 on third down. But along with that rushing attack, Leonhard's defense carried the day with six sacks, 10 TFLs, five takeaways. Lee Chenal was unblockable. He had 5.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. Wilder was the ultimate disrupter. He had a forced fumble and recovery and an interception.
It was one of Aidan O'Connell's three picks. He didn't throw another one the final five games of the regular season. O'Connell is back for a sixth year. And he's better than ever. He leads the Big Ten in passing yards per game (325) and ranks No. 1 in career completion percentage (.679) at Purdue.
"He's a smart player and playing better and better," Wilder said of the former walk-on QB. "Last year's game was one of the most fun in my career – and it wasn't even because of the two turnovers (he forced) – it was just the way the guys rallied and came together. I remember it being a vital game."
Saturday's game would fall into the same category. On so many different fronts for Wisconsin.
"This is where leaders have to step up," Wilder said. "This is where true leadership rises."
But, in this context, there's only so much Wilder can do. Or say. "It's not my team anymore," he conceded. "Last year, along with a couple of the other seniors, this was my team to control. This was my responsibility. Well, it's not my responsibility now.
"I don't want them to think that I'm trying to live in the past. Or trying to relive my glory days. I'm just one voice in the guy's ears. I try to show love and support. I just try to bring energy – making sure these guys are loving being in the building. I love being around them. It's not forced."
Wilder has stayed in touch with some former teammates, including safety Scott Nelson, who's on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad. They talk just about every day. And they're both understanding of what the program is going through in this transition, players and coaches alike. But …
"We have to find a way to win games – that's the reality of it," Wilder said. "We have to be realistic with ourselves on how we can change habits to eventually changes results. Being in this perspective now, as a volunteer staff member, you realize how much power the players have.
"Players have so much power to make change and turns things around. Coaches can say all they want. But it's up to the players to make that decision to come together … That's their challenge."
Wilder was mentored by his position coach, Leonhard. He has the utmost faith in him. "He's not only great with X's and O's, but he's a great communicator with the players," Wilder said. "His confidence is contagious. He's level-headed all the time. That's what we need right now.
"We need somebody who's level-headed in the chaos – making sure everybody knows it's going to be ok. That's him. That's the way he is. That's the way he carries himself. The confidence level. The natural charisma. It is contagious. And I believe that he is the right man to step in and calm the storm."
Leonhard had his back. And now Wilder is grateful to be in a position to return the favor.
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