On the field, there are a lot of similarities between Ka’Deem Carey and Nick Wilson. The two running backs like to do their damage between the tackles, rely on their physicality more than their speed and are true workhorses. They’re even similar in stature. Carey is 5-feet-10-inches and 207 pounds. Wilson is 5-10, 199.
But off the field? “Uh, they’re different,” running backs coach Calvin Magee said. “Very different.” Carey wasn’t exactly shy. His smile was often present and the two-time All-American liked to run his mouth, both on and off the field. Wilson is a bit more reserved. “He’s low-key,” Magee said of the true freshman. “He talks low. He’s very confident, but very respectable and humble. He’s going to stay that way. He displayed that in the recruiting process, how he was humble and how he was quiet and how he didn’t care about the flash. Even in recruiting, he committed to us, he stayed committed to us and he wasn’t worried about any attention or anything.”
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Wilson enters tonight’s Pac-12 championship game with 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns. The Fresno, California product been even more productive over the last four games all of which have been wins. Wilson has rushed for 653 yards and eight touchdowns on 95 rushes. “Nick is just a student of the game,” Magee said. “He pays attention to all the little details. He’s a football-smart kid. He’s hungry.” And why the recent surge? “His discipline of understanding reads and being obedient to those reads and not just freelance running,” Magee said. Wilson and Carey both deviate from what a typical Rich Rodriguez skill player looks like.
The UA’s coach usually likes small, speedy players at running back and wide receiver. Wilson and Carey, a pair of bruisers, are hardly that. Magee said the two have been successful because Arizona’s run game is less about the size of the runner and more about the system. Rodriguez agreed. “I think our system or style can fit any kind of back,” Rodriguez said. “I know I’m doing a recruiting pitch right here, but Ka’Deem was a physical runner, who ran hungry. Nick is a physical guy who has a little bit of speed. “I’m hoping any style of back who wants to run for 1,000 yards will come to Arizona.”
Arizona running back Nick Wilson rushed for three touchdowns in last week’s 42-35 Pac-12 South-clinching victory over Arizona State, including this 21-yard scamper in the second quarter that left ASU linebacker Viliami Latu clutching at air.
