Michigan's Roman Wilson Reflects On Why He Chose Michigan

Roman Wilson has the chance to play football at a number of Power Five programs, but none of them could match what Michigan had to offer.

Senior wideout Roman Wilson has established himself as the top target in Michigan's offense this season, and his production is a big reason for the Wolverines being one win away from claiming their first national championship since 1997. 

Meeting with the media on Saturday, Wilson discussed the upcoming matchup with Washington, along with why he chose Michigan coming out of high school.

Photo: Christopher Breiler

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: Washington is definitely a very good team. They kind of remind me a lot of what this team is and what they're built on. A lot of guys willing to do whatever they can to help win a game. They fly around the field and play with a lot of energy. When they make big plays, they carry the momentum from the offense to defense, and defense to offense. They are very good, and I think it's going to be a good matchup for us.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: I don't really talk to Rome. I may have said congrats or something like that a while back, but when I met him, he's a very, very respectable, humble guy. Very good. You know, I look at him as a friend almost, you know, when I met him, but we haven't talked much since, but he's a very good guy.

Q. How is the game plan against Washington differ than Alabama, and much different defense philosophy. Do you approach this game wildly different?

ROMAN WILSON: No matter who we play and what the matchup is, I feel we have a lot of options for whatever the defense throws at us. We're going to take what they give us, and we're going to look for big plays. We're expecting a lot of guys to make big plays in the game.

Q. In the end zone, what went through your mind that moment you jumped over the goal line?

ROMAN WILSON: That 2 minute drive could have been anyone that could have gone in there. I think it was 2nd down when that play happened. And I was pretty confident if that play didn't work, going to come back with another one, and just have ultimate confidence in the coaches and players to get us into the end zone, and just lucky and blessed happened to be me, and just a great feeling to be able to cross the end zone and tie the game up for our team.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: Definitely not the Rose Bowl -- like I never thought that I would be the guy to make big plays, but you know, like being who I am and how I grew up, and you know how I think and process information, and you know, I'm not really surprised. I put in a lot of work and prepare a lot for these games, so you know when I get my opportunity, I'm gonna make the most of it.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: I think the NIL program here is good. I think it's more focused on development for players, winning national championships, winning games, developing people, not only on the football field, but for the rest of their life, you know. One thing, my opinion on NIL, I feel like you lose track of what your main goal was coming to college, and you know, my goal is to come into college was never to hold a lot of money and get a lot of money, I want to use college as an opportunity to better my life, and I feel like Michigan does a good job with that.

Q. From Hawaii, asking what kind of pride do you take being from that state and representing that state?

ROMAN WILSON: Definitely a lot, man, growing up in Hawaii, it's a special place. And, you know, that bond with that whole island, and I feel like that whole island supports me. And any kid that is from there, they support them, and walking around with that pride, and knowing I have a chance to represent my hometown. And it's different from where other people grow up. Like, I'm the only one, and a lot of pride, and got the title on me: Wherever I go, whatever I do for us in my life, you know, that's who I am and that's where I'm from.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: He was a cool guy. Kind of reminds me a lot of Semaj Morgan, just a guy who kind of lifts the mood up and a lot of places and cracks a lot of jokes, and, you know, a very good athlete as well. I only wish he was still on this team, I mean he's a good guy to be around them. Every time we've had an experience with him it's always been positive, so. I love that guy.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: I talked with them, so you know it was it was a little bit shocking, but you know he thought that was the best option for him and, you know, if he thinks that then I agree with him too.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: Wouldn't say it's one route. I feel like it's just getting an open spot and making it easy for him, and, you know, just doing everything I can to make a good play for him. I feel like that's where the chemistry and the trust comes from.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: You talking about Tui? Yeah, I played with Tui. He's cool. When I was a younger guy, he was one of those guys on the team who was like the highly-rated recruit so you know him kind of being a role model for us younger guys and kind of opening the door and leading us and showing us, you know, this is possible, this is a thing you can do, come here, and can play football, and go to the next level, and do good, and him being a role model, that was a lot for me, and watching him go to UW, and follow his dream, and made it much easier for me to want to do it too.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: UW's defense, They're really good. You know, they fly around the field and play with a lot of effort, physical, they get moving. Get moving and whatever they give us, you know, we're going to take it. And going to do everything we can to win this game.

Q. Media day comes full circle. And you said there is unfinished business. Very adamant about that.

(Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: Definitely, from the outside, you can see that pressure and magnitude building up as we go through the National Championship game. But, you know, in my opinion, I feel like this team and these coaches do a great job with just focusing on what's next, you know, the next game, not worried about what's in front of us. And I feel like that's really helped me just focus on the game and not making it bigger than what it really is, and just going out there and doing my best.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: Yeah, I didn't take too many trips being out in Hawaii. I remember, I went to Cal, UCLA, Michigan, and then Oregon in that order, and the same week and, you know, from being at UCLA and Cal, and them showing me love too. You know the love was different when I got out to Michigan, and seeing the weight room, and training room, and facilities, and field, and second field, and grass field. And everything they showed me, just like, this is what I want, this is where I want to be. I want to do everything I can to better my body, and mind, and academics, and better my football career, and learn the game of football, and be more than just a football player, and I felt when I got to Michigan, and seeing everything they put into the process, really stood out to me.

Q. Who is the strongest guy on the team?

ROMAN WILSON: I think it's Kris Jenkins, Kris and probably Trente. I seen him throw some insane amount of weights, like Turkish getup with a 200-pound dumbbell, and it's absolutely insane, like watching him pick weight up like that and carry it. Like, that's unreal, like one hand like 200-some pounds, like, that's insane.

Q. Fastest guy?

ROMAN WILSON: I'm gonna say me. I'm always gonna say me, but there's some dudes on the team, Eamonn, Kechaun, am I missing anyone? Junior be sliding for a bigger guy. He's really fast too.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: These receivers we have are definitely special. You turn the camera around, he has a big old hat on. And I was wearing it earlier, and I don't blame him, that's the type of group we have. We'd be in the meeting room, we'd be at practice cracking jokes, just having fun, and, you know, these guys are next level, and they're all really good too. So I just love being around them.

Q. For people who never get to be in the shoes you are in, playing for national title, how do you describe it?

ROMAN WILSON: It's unreal, man. Just the amount of support we get just from Michigan and the amount of people who are watching us and following us. It's unreal. It's a great blessing, you know, I like to tell myself, you want to be a leader in the group and then you want to be the leader of the leaders, and I feel like that's what this team is striving for.

Q. (Question off Microphone)

ROMAN WILSON: For me... I feel like wearing a jersey like that is a special jersey. You want to be the best person wearing that number, no matter what team you are on, who you are playing, the best number 1, number 0, number 6, on the field at all times.