Wilson Garners Hall Nod

O.T., it was as simple as that. During his time as a Milford Buccaneer, that was Octavion Wilson’s moniker. While it may be only two letters, the person was and is so much more than that. I had the pleasure of being on the sidelines when Wilson was a star of the Milford team.

While unassuming, Wilson was a fierce competitor on the field. However, seeing Wilson as just a football player is a mistake many people made. Wilson was and is so much more—he is a man of deep religious faith, a family man, and most of all, he is the very definition of grace under adversity. Trying to get words out of Wilson about his accomplishments was a tall task during his time at Milford. Asking him about a key play he made or a big moment in a game, he always dispensed the credit to his teammates and coaches. That is just the way he is. To Wilson, it was all about God and everybody else, never about himself.

Speaking with his former coach Mike Tkach, he had nothing but praise to offer for the four-year letterman running back and defensive back, and 2014 Milford graduate. “He was a coach’s dream. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do on the football field. He possessed a quiet leadership that was infectious. He loved being on the field and enjoyed spending time with his teammates.” Tkach added, “He was a generational player, and I loved every minute I spent on the field with him and have very fond memories of our time together at Milford.”

The Blue/Gold selection looked to challenge himself at the next level, choosing to go to Division III powerhouse Mount Union, located in Alliance, Ohio. He could have gone to a lot of schools, but he wanted to go up against the best. In his sophomore year, Wilson started 13 games as a wide receiver/tight end. He recorded 11 receptions for 170 yards and five touchdowns on what would become the 2015 Division III National Championship Team, with an unblemished 15-0 record.

There was just one problem: Wilson didn’t play the final two games of that season. It wasn’t due to injury; it was due to illness. Wilson was diagnosed with pericarditis and pleurisy. After medication and treatment, Wilson thought he was ready to get back on the field. Halfway through the 2016 season, however, Wilson was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, a condition causing pain and numbness in his extremities. Wilson had played his last game at Mount Union and was now fighting a much more challenging battle than that of college football.

Those of us who have been around long enough have seen it all our lives, and we always seem to ask ourselves the same question: “Why is it that good people are made to suffer?” Wilson was suffering, and there was little he could do about it except turn to God as he always had. He did not ask, “Why me?” He simply asked the Lord for His help. The pain was excruciating and showed little signs of diminishing. It would be his faith in God that would restore him. His faith was tested to the point of him asking the Lord to take him if that was the plan; he had faith that God would follow His plan.

After all the suffering, all the pain, and a prayer to God, Wilson finally began to feel his strength returning. While he had grown a bit larger during his ordeal, the desire to play football had never left his heart. Overweight and out of shape, Wilson hit the weight room with joy in his heart. Defying the odds, he got his body back in football shape again. After reaching out to some programs, Wilson quickly came to the conclusion that he wanted to stay close to home, choosing Salisbury University for his last year of football.

The driving force behind his comeback were the people who helped mold him. At the top of his list are his mother, Teresa, and mentor John Hampton, who serves as a father figure in his life, along with Monique Hampton, who serves as a second mother. Then there is a young man from his church who looks up to Wilson, whose name will be forever in his heart. “I can’t believe the strength, love, and support that has been given to me by God and these people. Without them, I don’t know where I would be,” Wilson stated.

With the Seagulls, who were a big running team, Wilson roped in 23 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns. He also posted a single-game receiving record of 182 yards for Salisbury. As a result of his efforts, Wilson was nominated for and won the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award, the first Division III player to have done so. He was honored at the Fiesta Bowl for this accomplishment. He was also recognized as the 2020 Delaware State Broadcaster Hurlock Unsung Hero Award.

After so many challenges and accolades, there is little doubt that Wilson is pleased with the honor of being selected for the Milford 12th Man Gridiron Hall of Fame. When it comes to achievements, however, perhaps it is his most recent blessing that he cherishes most. On June 14th, Wilson and his wife Victoria were blessed with the arrival of their first child, Orion Trevion Wilson. Like everything else in his life, Little O.T. was another twist of spiritual intervention. Victoria and Octavion had lived close to each other all their lives, but had never met. Once they did meet, however, Wilson knew, “From the minute I met her, I knew we were meant to be together. Within six months, we were married. That was just about four years ago. We wanted children, but again we were presented with challenges. While our faith was tested at times, we always believed. Now we are ready for our next challenge.”

Wilson is the Regional Sales Manager for CR3 American Exteriors and lives in Georgetown.