Mazzi Wilkins
Plant 2014 CB
2012 numbers
– 40 solo tackles, 54 total tackles
– 18 Pass break ups
– 1 cause fumble
To play corner, the lone soldier, the isolated perimeter guy who gets all the love when making big plays and totally exposed when stuff hits the fan, you have to have a certain mindset. You have to be confident in you ability and play with a slight chip on your shoulder.
Corner is the easiest assignment on the football field, yet hardest to perform with success. A corner’s whole game revolves around technique, anticipation and execution. One false step will get the best corner on the bad end if his opponent’s highlight film. One calculated risk can make a corner the hero. Either way, it’s not a position of worry. To succeed, a corner must relish the challenge, want the opportunity and embrace the competition.
Plant CB Mazzi Wilkins followed his outstanding 2012 summer performance with a solid 2012 season. He was a standout defensive back in the Plant secondary who played multiple positions. His biggest game may have occurred on one of the biggest stages vs Armwood where he ended with 5 pass breakups.
We took a moment to speak with Mazzi about his mentality as a corner, recent South Florida offer, and standout Ignite Showcase performance.
BCP: What makes you a dominant CB?
MW: What makes me a dominant corner is me being long and tall as/or taller then WRs and how well coached I am.
BCP: How has coach Puckett helped with your development?
MW: Coach Puckett (Plant defensive back coach) helps me by reminding me to stay loose and keep my technique tight.
BCP: What goes through your head when you line up infront of a WR in M2M press coverage?
MW: When I’m at the line with WRs the only thing that runs through my mind is “Inside release, inside route… Outside release, outside route and I tell myself to stay calm and be patient.
BCP: First reaction after USF offer?
MW: my reaction to my USF offer was, I was really happy because all that hard work has started to pay off and it just made me hungry for more.
BCP: What other schools are showing heavy attention?
MW: Central Florida, Georgia, Pitt and Rutgers
BCP: What did the Ignite Showcase prove to you? What did you take from it?
MW: the Ignite showcase proved to me that I can hang with the best WRs and I took from it, I got a lot of talent and I’m ready to go against bigger and better players.