PATRIOTS 2025 THIRD-ROUND DRAFT PICK JARED WILSON

PRESS CONFERENCE
April 25, 2025

Q: What was your reaction when you got the call?

JW: Oh man, it was surreal. I'm still trying to process it all. It was a long night waiting, but God put me in the right spot to be a New England Patriot and I'm just excited for the opportunity ahead.

Q: As a center from Georgia, do you have a relationship with David Andrews at all who was playing that position here for quite some time?

JW: Yeah, he came down to Georgia I believe one time, and we spoke real briefly right before practice and that was the only time that I ever got to speak to him.

Q: Talk about your versatility. Obviously, you played center, but you can play guard as well. Talk about how that versatility has benefited you in your career and how it can continue to benefit you.

JW: Definitely. For example, I came into Georgia as a guard. I think I moved over to center, so I think my versatility brings a very well, a good aspect to the offensive line at the New England Patriots. It just brings my versatility out to play left guard, center, right guard. Whatever they need me to do, whatever they tell me to do, I'm all for it.

Q: You just made the move to center and you've only had one season there. What allowed you to have so much success at that position despite not maybe having had as much time to practice as some of the other guys?

JW: Honestly, just the preparation at UGA. Those first three years where I was just sitting, waiting my time, and developing, I went against some great guys in Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Travon Walker, Nakobe Dean, Devonte Wyatt. I went against elite NFL guys every single day of practice on the scout team, and it was all just leading me up for this past season to have a great season.

Q: Just throughout the process or before, both being SEC linemen, have you crossed paths with Will Campbell at all? And if you have, what was your impression of him?

JW: We actually trained together down in Texas—Frisco, Texas—with Duke Manyweather. Will's a great dude. Funny dude. He's kind of quiet here and there, but once you get to know him a little bit, he definitely opens up a lot. Funny dude. Got that Louisiana accent. He's definitely a great dude to be around. He's got a great work ethic as well.

Q: Can you give us an example of Will [Campbell], his sense of humor?

JW: I can't really describe it. It's just quiet, but then once he gets talking, it's loud. It's funny to see him open up and show who he really is. He's a really good dude.

Q: You're now going to get to work with Drake Maye a little bit more. Are you familiar with his play at all and just can you tell us a little bit about what you've seen from him, if you are?

JW: He was a young QB going into last year, rookie, and I think he did a great job with trying to turn around that team and turn around that offense. I haven't really seen too much of him, but he just texted me about 10 minutes ago and congratulated me, and text him if I needed anything.

Q: You mentioned your work with Duke Manyweather. I was curious, he's had a lot of success with NFL guys, so what have you learned from him and so far, how has he allowed you to build on your game and grow as a player?

JW: Duke is one of those guys, he's just a guru. He wants to know the game, he wants to learn the game, he trains the best guys. He taught me so much, but I think one thing that I took away from him was the film study that we went over and how detailed it was twice a week. It was so in depth and also getting on the board and writing plays and just learning new terminology that comes with the game at the next level.

Q: Could you look back on your experience on the National Championship teams? What was that like and what did you take away from those years?

JW: Those National Championship years, it was exciting times, it was fun times. One thing that I can take away from it is details matter. Attention to detail is what wins games. It's not a game of yards, it's not a game of feet, it's a game of inches. Every step, every punch that you throw as an offensive lineman, every throw that you make as a quarterback, every single thing matters. It's a long, grueling season and you've got to lean on the guys next to you to work together and have a connection to get past that long season and ultimately get to the top of a Super Bowl.

Q: Did Xavier Truss tell you about living in New England at all yet?

JW: He has not told me anything about living in New England. I've heard great things about New England from Truss because it's Truss, but other than that I haven't heard pretty much anything.

Q: Any fun facts, things that fans would be surprised to know about you before you get to New England?

JW: I'll give you one thing, I like snakes. I don't think a lot of people know that, but I love snakes. When I was 12, my 12th birthday, I think my mom got me a ball python that I had for about maybe 6-7 months and then we were moving in with our granddad and he was like, "yeah no, that's not coming in my house," and I begged him for about a week and I just had to give it away.

Q: On that note, anything ridiculous that you've done athletically that we might not know about besides your 40-yard dash?

JW: No, not that I can think of right now at least.

Q: Do you own a new snake? Did you get a new python?

JW: No, but I will when I come up there.