He’s 6-foot-3 and weighs 263 pounds, but without a hint of fat, looks bigger. And on the football field, he can be a nightmare for offensive linemen who try to contain him. Second-year Greenville coach Ben Blackmon says it’s Pilson’s explosion off the football, combined with power and athleticism, that makes him a rare talent.
“He has the potential to be something very, very special, something that hasn’t been at Greenville in a long time,” Blackmon told AuburnUndercover.com on Monday. “As long as he does what he’s coached to do, he’s going to be a premier player in the state of Alabama.”
Auburn coaches saw that early and let Pilson, who is on the ESPN 150 Watch List, know he was wanted. When he went to watch Auburn play Vanderbilt and watched the Tiger Walk last season, he knew he wanted them, too.
“People that you don’t even know were walking up to you and hollering and yelling,” Pilson said. “From that day, I just wanted to be there. I wanted to walk up to somebody and scream ‘War Eagle!’”
On the field at the A-Day game last March, Pilson made his decision. He committed to Auburn.
“I was out there on the field and they were warming up,” Pilson said. “That’s when I told them.” Others have since tried to convince him to rethink that commitment.
“Oh, yeah, they have,” said Pilson, who had 71 tackles and 12 sacks last season. “Alabama, mostly. I really don’t know what to tell them, so I just agree with whatever they say. I’m pretty solid, but I might take some visits.”
Asked if that meant he was still firmly committed to signing with Auburn, Pilson nodded his head vigorously. “Yes,” he said. “I am. Yes, yes.”
Pilson plays defensive end for Greenville, but will probably play defensive tackle at Auburn.
"I like playing end, but I think if I get any bigger, I'll be playing tackle," Pilson said with a laugh.
A football star in Greenville, where the high school team is a community passion, is something of a celebrity, especially one who stands out like Pilson.
“Living in Greenville as a football player is very exciting.” Pilson said. “Everybody knows you. They depend on you to do the right thing. If you act up, somebody will see you, tell the coaches and everybody is going to know. That’s when it gets hard when you go to practice.”
Blackmon heard about Pilson shortly after he arrived from Opelika High School. He found a rising junior who had the ability to play for a long time, but maybe not everything else he needed.
“He had to have some good ol’ hard coaching,” Blackmon said, chuckling. “We’ve got him straight now. He’s ready to go.”
From the time he was a little boy growing up in Greenville, Pilson has been bigger and stronger than most his age, Most of the time, he simply overpowered his opponents. He wore a large X on his helmet when he played youth football. That stood for “extra weight” and meant he could not carry the ball.
“If the ball was on the ground, you just had to fall on it,” Pilson said. “You couldn’t pick it up and run. I didn’t like that, but that’s the way it was.”
Pilson says he knows now what it takes to be successful. The words of Lawrence Mitchell, the uncle who has been like a father, push him on when times are hard.
“My uncle always told me I’m going on ability and haven’t worked hard for anything,” Pilson said. “That’s what he’s always telling me. Right now, I’m trying to work hard and show what I can do. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be right now. He supports me in many different ways.”
Next Monday, Pilson will begin practice for his final Greenville season. He has individual goals – to break the school record for sacks and maybe even for tackles – but mostly, he says, he wants to win and win big.
“Right now, I’m trying to be the team captain,” Pilson said. “I’m trying to push my teammates. I’ve always wanted to break a couple of records, but I really want to get a ring.”
ESPN, Scouts Inc. evaluation: Pilson is a big high school defensive end. He will flash enough to project to the end position in college, but could likely physically develop into more of a true defensive tackle as he matures. He has a good get-off and is good with his hands. He will shoot his weapons, gets good position, and can separate. Displays the ability to be able to find the ball and shed. Does a good job of getting hands on a blocker and squeezing down. Does a good job of being able to take on a block and hold his ground. He does need to improve at taking on the reach block and not allowing himself to get pinned inside. He has a good speed for a kid his size. He runs very upright, but can scoot. While you would not label him as a consistent threat to run plays down from the backside, you would not totally discount his ability to do that either. He takes good angles in pursuit. Can be a physical wrap-up tackler. Against the pass he can bull rush some. Flashes the ability to get his hips flipped and slide past a blocker. He will use his hands to try and take on and defeat a blocker. Pilson is a good prospect. Where he ultimately plays will be determined by how he physically develops and where he goes. Ideally he could develop into a productive swing guy.
