Wilson set to lift KU to explosive season
by Rob Knox, Sports Information Director

Wilson led KU with 884 yards rushing last season.

KUTZTOWN, PA. (August 10, 2009) – Dontay Wilson (Stamford, CT/Stamford) resembles a stick of dynamite or a combustible chemical mixture. A pleasant package of excitement, electricity and elusiveness, the 5-10 senior running back may be the most explosive player in the Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference (PSAC).

A returning first team all-PSAC performer, Wilson is looking to help the Kutztown University football team enjoy a solid season.

While he produced enough individual highlights to produce his own personal DVD, Wilson has bigger goals this season. None of them have anything to do with surpassing 2,000-yards for his career or enjoying a 1,000-yard season. For Wilson believes, if the Golden Bears are to accomplish all of their goals, then everything else should take care of itself.

“We are looking to have a winning record,” Wilson said. “Each year, we want to show improvement. I believe as long as we work together as a team, then we should be able to accomplish some good things.”

The Golden Bears were picked to finish sixth in the PSAC Eastern Division preseason poll. With the explosive Wilson leading a talented and experienced team, Kutztown could easily find its way higher up the division standings. Bloomsburg, West Chester, East Stroudsburg, C.W. Post, and Shippensburg were picked ahead of Kutztown. Millersville and Cheyney bring up the rear.

Kutztown finished 2008 with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the conference. The Golden Bears are still early in pre-season camp. They are preparing for their August 29 opener at Saint Anselm, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and can be heard live of WEEU (880 AM).

“Having a winning season this year would mean a lot to us,” Wilson said. “If that happens then that means that everybody from the special teams to the offense and to the defense did their jobs. We are excited to get the season started.”

Having Wilson on the field will significantly boost the Golden Bears chances of enjoying their first winning season since 2003. Wilson has entered camp in great shape with some added muscle. Faster than the Road Runner, Wilson has made opposing defenders feel like Wil E. Coyote when chasing him. Many times, defenders have reached and grabbed air when trying to tackle Wilson.

Last season Wilson used his speed and guile to lead Kutztown in rushing with 884 yards despite missing two games. Wilson led the conference in yards per carry (7.4). Wilson finished third in the PSAC in rushing per game (98.9) and all-purpose yards (133.1). He enters his senior year with 1,439 rushing yards.

“I gained a couple of pounds, which should help me carry a bigger load,” Wilson said. “I am definitely feeling good.”

One of Wilson’s most memorable moments last season occurred in the season opener against Saint Anselm. He ran for a career-high 162 yards on 12 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns including a scintillating 45-yard burst that shook University Field to its core. Overall, Wilson rushed for 100 or more yards five times. He also torched Shippensburg for 143 yards on 12 carries and two scores, including a 77-race to paydirt.

“The biggest thing he brings to the field is his speed,” fourth-year coach Raymond Monica said. “He has a chance to take it the distance for a touchdown every time he touches the ball. He works extremely hard and I know that he has really prepared himself for a full season.”

Wilson almost kept his football talents hidden. He didn’t begin playing football until he was 14. Basketball had his attention until Wilson finally decided to put the pads on. Wilson enjoyed a strong high school career and attended Hudson Valley Community College before transferring to Kutztown in 2007.

The sports management major had no problems adjusting to Kutztown. Modeling his game after Minnesota Viking running back Adrian Peterson, Wilson made an immediate impact by setting a Kutztown single season record with 646 yards on 25 kickoff returns in 2007. Wilson also studies former Detroit Lion running back Barry Sanders, which helps him escape from defenders, find tiny crevices where they aren’t any and keeps opposing defensive coordinators awake at night.

“I found it to be pretty comfortable here and everybody made me feel welcomed,” Wilson said. “I was nervous at first but I just focused on working hard. I heard about the PSAC and how it was good competition. So I am really glad that I came here.”

 --KU--