Impact Of A Scholarship: Josh Wilson

Josh Wilson always had his mind set on becoming a Maryland Terrapin, to continue his family's legacy while also establishing his own.

Wilson’s mother, Valanda, and father, Timothy, both attended the University of Maryland. Timothy played on the football team under Jerry Claiborne in the 1970s. 

Not only did Wilson have ties to the program through his family, but because he attended DeMatha Catholic, he was familiar with many recruits from around the DMV area.

He grew up in the same neighborhood and played on the same little league team as Shawne Merriman, while also living down the street from Wesley Jefferson. Wilson scrimmaged against Vernon Davis every year in high school and he also ran track against Josh Allen, so together the local recruits decided to join together at home.

“All of the big-time recruits in the ‘DMV’ were pretty close and we started to believe in what [Maryland] was doing,” said Wilson, who played cornerback with the Terps from 2003-06. “We wanted to make a statement to stay home and win at home.”

But at Maryland, it was not just about football for Wilson.

“My experience at Maryland gave me the opportunity to be able to be more than just a football player,” Wilson said.

Wilson was a business student at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, which he claims helped him immensely during his post-football life. He was introduced to business strategies that he still uses today. Wilson runs a real estate investment company in Washington, D.C., which he has had success in investing in several projects. 

“Maryland gave me access to a top business school, access to internship or mentorship with former graduates, and access to a true diverse campus that prepared me to be ready to navigate smoothly into the business world,” he said. 

Wilson went on to be drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He spent nine seasons playing professionally for the Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons.

After his near-decade career, he went back to college at George Washington University for his MBA and in May 2021 he will graduate from Georgetown University with a Master’s Degree in real estate.

These opportunities continue to tie back to Wilson’s scholarship at Maryland.

“Being on scholarship was the only way I was going to be able to go to any college,” Wilson said. “I knew for my future, whether it was in football or the business world, I needed to give myself the best opportunity to be successful and being on scholarship was the only way.

Receiving an offer from Maryland started when Wilson attended a camp on campus for high school football players. Current Maryland head coach Michael Locksley was recruiting Wilson at the time. The head coach at the time was Ralph Friedgen, who was a graduate assistant when Wilson’s father played at Maryland. 

Not only did Wilson have the close ties to the program, but the skill showed out too. The defensive coordinator at the time was Gary Blackney and Wilson remembers Blackney not being a huge fan of him because of his height, as he stood just 5-foot-9-inches tall.

Wilson recalls one thing that Locksley said to him at that camp.

“Josh every time one of the big-time receivers comes up, you set up,” Locksley told him. “I don’t care if it’s your turn or not. You go.”

Wilson said that is exactly what he did and guys like Vernon Davis and Andrew Weatherly along with other four and five-star players failed to catch a pass with him covering them. 

At the time, James Franklin, who is now Penn State’s head coach, was the wide receivers coach at Maryland. He told Blackney that if he didn't offer Wilson a scholarship to play defensive back, he was going to offer him to be a wide receiver. Wilson got his offer from Blackney the next day, and committed shortly after.

Every dollar donated by donors supporting his scholarship changed his life, Wilson believes. His mother and grandparents sacrificed a lot for him, he recalls, but the cost of attending college was not feasible for them, which made the scholarship that much more important to him and his family.

“This is where donors change families’ legacies,” said Wilson. “Because someone thought I was worth the donation, I stand here today as a donor.”

“I am able to provide for my four children to receive an education and financially support other members of my family to attend higher education. I am able to repay my debt to the future Terps for years to come.  This is the ‘why we do it.’  To give that kid who has everything but the financial capability to be a world changer, a chance to change the world.”

The opportunity to attend college, play in the NFL for nearly a decade, run a real estate company and continue his education is something that Wilson thinks is all tied back to his decision to attend the University of Maryland.

“This is the dream my mother and grandparents always had for me,” Wilson said. “The opportunity to be able to have an equal opportunity to be successful. They knew with my work ethic, if all things were equal in my life, I would out-work anyone to succeed.”