2019’s Cedrick Wilcox patterns his style after Saquon Barkley | Youth1

2019’s Cedrick Wilcox patterns his style after Saquon Barkley

Cedrick Wilcox is one of the best players from the Port St. Lucie, FL area in the Class of 2019.

 

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Wilcox, who attends Centennial High School, is a dynamic player that works as a running back.

 

No matter the opponent, on each snap Wilcox is determined to give it his all.

 

Wilcox is going all out.

 

The motor is always at full throttle whenever Wilcox steps between the lines.

 

“My mindset at my position is I will not let the first person tackle me. Wilcox said. “I want my opponent to have to earn everything they get. I refuse to give anything less than my all.”

 

Wilcox has great passion and energy whenever he’s on the gridiron. Wilcox tells why he enjoys the game of football so much.

 

“What i love most about football is that it is a stress reliever,” Wilcox said. “Although it can be hard at times, I wouldn’t know what to do if i couldn’t play the sport. I’m very passionate about it.”

 

Wilcox has learned many valuable lessons from playing football that he applies to his everyday life.

 

The main one is applying perspective to all situations.

 

“Playing football has taught so much about life in general,” Wilcox said. “Football has taught me no matter how hard things are you have to keep fighting and never quit.”

 

Wilcox recalls his favorite football memory.

 

“Probably when i was younger and we won nationals for Pop Warner,” Wilcox said.  “It was a special memory that I’m never going to forget.”

 

Trey Page is in his first season coaching Wilcox for Centennial High School.  

 

Page explains the best parts of Wilcox’s game.

 

“He’s very physical. If you’re going up one-on-one against him, you’re probably going to lose. That’s just being real. He’s extremely competitive and has that fire and will to succeed,” Page said. “He has the ability to find small, little creases and holes created through the offensive line. Once he hits those holes he can take it to the house. With the speed he has, he doesn’t get caught from behind.”

 

Wilcox takes his role as one of the leaders on the team very seriously. Wilcox makes sure he’s a daily positive influence on his peers.

 

“I demonstrate being a good teammate by being positive and helping one of my teammates get better instead of bringing negativity to them,” Wilcox said. “The best advice i’ve given to my teammate is probably telling them remain focused and work as hard as they can.”

 

Page adds that Wilcox is one of those consummate teammates that every squad needs to be successful.

 

“He’s showing good leadership by working hard to learn our plays and our system every day,” Page said. “He’s not afraid to speak up in workouts, which is good because some people can be timid. It’s really special to have a guy that’s come in from day one and is able to correct people and gain their respect.”

 

Wilcox is appreciative of having amazing male role models that are supportive.

 

“I’ve learned many things from my coaches about being a better player and person,” Wilcox said. “What I’ve learned from my coaches is that no matter how tired I am just keep working and it will pay off in the end.”

 

Page is an advocate of Wilcox’s capabilities.

 

“Last year he was one of the guys that stood out in the film,” Page said. “He was probably the best player on their team. We realized that this guy is a problem and somebody we have to create a game plan against.”

 

In addition to making clutch plays, Wilcox also has a high level of football IQ as well.

 

Wilcox has excellent football awareness that puts him in position to thrive.

 

“He’s a very smart football player. It’s just a matter of him learning our offensive system because he’s coming from a much different system,” Page said. “He’s a very intelligent player that is always putting himself in the right spots.”

 

Wilcox is on the grind to perfect and hone his craft in any way possible.

 

“His work ethic is great,” Page said. “We ask a lot of our players and they do exactly what he ask for and even more. They have a yes sir, no sir mentality and respect their elders.”

 

Page explains why he believes Wilcox is similar to this player.

 

“I would compare him to Doug Martin and he has the speed to kill you in the long distance,” Page said. “He’s going to get four to five yards at a time and then the next thing you know he’s out of the gate for 60.”

 

Wilcox patterns his style of play after this standout at his position.

 

“I look up to Saquon Barkley. He’s just a beast and can play more than one position,” Wilcox said. “He’s always dangerous and a threat whenever he’s lined up on the field.”

 

Wilcox is constantly striving for greatness in everything that he does.

 

“Goals on the field: to rush more than a 100 every game,” Wilcox said. “Goals off the field: to have more than 3.0 GPA and become a role model to younger kids.”

 

Wilcox describes the style of play he’d love to be a part of in college.

 

“My dream college is a school that will put their trust into me with a system that can help me get better and a chance to play at the next level,” Wilcox said. “Don’t really have a dream school, just anywhere I can fit in at and grow.”

 

Page outlines the next areas of improvement for Wilcox.

 

“I just want him to be able to run more routes and be more of an all-purpose back so that when he gets to college he can be able to line up as a receiver,” Page said.

 

Page believes the sky is the limit as long as Wilcox continues to stay hungry.  

 

“I think if he goes to the right offense with the right coaching staff, he can be a very, very good college player,” Page said. “Division I level for sure because he’s talented and has the heart.”

 

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