If you were having a conversation about the best player in the WPIAL thus far in 2016, the name Darius Wise would have to be talked about.
The Beaver superstar is one of the most exciting players in the state and turned in a record performance last Friday vs. Keystone Oaks.
To be fair, Wise along with Keystone Oaks quarterback Alex Smith put on a show that won’t be duplicated anytime soon.
Smith set a new WPIAL record by recording 653 yards, 450 in the air and 203 on the ground. Smith, who’s committed to Duquesne, also combined for 7 TDs.
As far as Wise goes, he rushed 19 times for 403 yards (11th most in WPIAL history) and also threw for 93 yards. Like Smith, Wise scored 7 TDs on Friday (six rushing and one passing).
“This Friday was a great experience and yeah afterwards my phone was blowing up big time, LOL,” said Wise.
Wise has been torturing opposing defenses all season, rushing for nearly 1,000 yards already and recording 15 TDs. Although Friday nights win was special, the highlight of this season has to have been upsetting #1 ranked Aliquippa and ending their 62-game regular season winning streak.
I asked Wise if his performance on Friday and really all season might be opening up the eyes of some Division-1 coaches, which could lead to a few more major offers. To this point, Wise has 3 D-1 offers, BYU, Virginia and Miami (OH).
I guess the knock on Wise is his size (5-10, 170) and if he is big enough to play D-1 football. Regardless of where he ends up, Wise says that he’ll be a slot receiver in college.
“I think it should and that’s what I want. I think I should be one of the best in the country and definitely one of the best around here but a God always has a plan.”
“As far as Pitt, I hear from them sometimes. An offer from them would mean a lot because it’s in my hometown and that’s a great feeling,” said Wise.
So what schools are in contact with you and might be close to offering?
“I think Penn State is about to offer and also West Virginia but I also hear from Colorado State and Pitt.”
Finally, I asked Wise if he was trying to sell himself to a college coach, what would he say and what would he bring to a college program?
“If I was recruiting a kid like me, I would say something like we need this kid before anyone else gets him. He is a player that makes nothing into something. He’s a kid with heart and he’s a good kid,” said Wise.
“I just want to make all my dreams a reality, that’s all!”
I don’t know where Wise will end up but I do know that whoever gets him, is getting a real special player.
