Centennial’s Jariel Wilson Shines in Revised Role

Centennial, led by star Jariel Wilson (pictured above), could either be the two-seed in its region, or left out of the playoffs entirely, depending on what happens Friday night.

Throughout his career, Centennial’s Jariel Wilson has done big things as soon as he’s called upon.

His coach, Matt Kriesky, realized that almost from the moment he started coaching him. Take Wilson’s sophomore year of 2016, for example. 

That was Kriesky’s first year as Centennial’s head coach after coming from Forest High. Wilson, who’d played sparingly under the previous staff as a freshman (“I’d play in [varsity] blowouts,” Wilson said). But Kriesky made him Centennial’s starting safety, and making all-state as the Cougars went 11-2 and won a pair of playoff games that fall. 

Last year, starting at safety again, Wilson had 47 tackles, one forced fumble, a pair of fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns for the 4-7 Cougars.

Centennal, Franklin Decided in Game's Final Seconds
Centennial’s Jariel Wilson had nearly 300 yards from scrimmage last week against Independence.

This year, Kriesky had other needs. The Cougars lost quarterback Tre Stewart (now playing at Wheaton College) and all-purpose star Tavion Fleming (Birmingham Southern) off last year’s big-play offense. Wilson, who also plays running back, ran 134 times for 1,068 yards and 17 scores last year.

And when the Cougars came up a little firepower short in a 35-28, opening-night loss to Ravenwood, Kriesky, a former defensive coordinator, came to grips with a decision he’d long struggled to make. He felt Centennial had quality options at safety with junior Azavian Pickens and sophomore Tucker Tremayne stepping up.

From the next week on, Wilson became a full-time running back. 

“We had discussions this off-season with him [on] offense [full-time],” Kriesky said on Wednesday, two games before the Cougars’ game at Cane Ridge. “We were just waiting on some of the younger guys to pan out, and they have.”

Taking Wilson out of his safety spot was a gamble. But he felt the risk was worth it given the additional rest he’d get, which could go towards more carries at running back.

That didn’t immediately work out quite as well as Kriesky hoped; the Cougars dropped a 52-26 game to Hendersonville in Week Two. 

Vindication came last week. Wilson carried 23 times for 276 yards and four touchdowns, adding a 16-yard reception, giving Centennial its first win of the year on Friday. 

That removed much doubt as to whether it was the right call, though Kriesky is hedging his bet slightly.

“He still practices, he does everything defensively [in practice],” Kriesky said two days before the Cougars’ Week Four game at Cane Ridge. “I just didn’t feel like the last two games, we’ve needed him, because the guys who’ve played the position have done what we’ve asked them to do.

“Will there be some times we ask him to play defensively? There will be, but my goal is to have him on the offensive side of the ball.”

A happy accident

Through a bit of a happy accident, coaches at Austin Peay saw Wilson’s potential at running back at the same moment Kriesky did. 

In 2016’s Week Five, playing in APSU’s backyard, the Cougars found themselves short of running backs in a game at Clarksville Northeast. With APSU offensive line coach Joshua Eargle watching, Kriesky went to Wilson, his fourth-string running back. 

Wilson carried 17 times for 200 yards and scored all three Centennial touchdowns in a 21-3 victory.

“That’s what drew [Austin Peay’s] interest. Their offensive line coach is the recruiter in this area and he saw [that game]. … The two [running backs] in front of him went down with ankle injuries. From that point on, I knew I’d probably have to give him up eventually on the defensive side,” Kriesk said with a laugh. 

Wilson, pictured after a practice before his junior season, will play college football at Austin Peay.

Wilson remembers it as a reluctant move as well. 

“Coach K came in and saw a lot of potential in me, felt like I was a good asset as a safety,” he said. “They didn’t want me to play a lot of running back as a sophomore. But we had some injuries, and they decided to let me play running back.”

Austin Peay saw enough that night to offer Wilson a scholarship then. APSU’s faith never wavered, and Wilson committed to the Governors in late July this year.

“[APSU’s interest] has been really consistent,” he said. “I just decided that it was the right decision for me and my family.”

A harbinger of things to come

The Governors, too, have decided that Wilson’s future is on offense. 

“They keep talking to me about how they’d like to use me in the offense, how they like to keep five backs fresh, so, they’re talking about early playing time,” he said. 

Wilson hasn’t caught many passes at Centennial, but the Governors may use him as a slot receiver, too. He says he’s putting extra focus on his grades to prepare for college, where he says he’s thinking of majoring in business. 

He’ll be missed at Centennial next year. But his biggest fan won’t be a stranger.

“He’s an unbelievable young man who’s an outstanding person in the classroom,” Kriesky said. “He’ll be an outstanding person in the Clarksville community. I’ve got two little kids. My kids know him. He spends a lot of time with them. That means a lot to me.

“I’m excited for him. I can’t wait to watch him the next four years at Austin Peay. He’s going to have a huge impact, not only in the football program, but the whole community.”