Interview: Missouri Tigers DE Damon Wilson II has 2025 All-American Potential

A quiet storm is rising out of central Missouri gathering energy and strength ready to unleash destruction throughout the 2025 college football season. After being on back-to-back Top 10 Georgia Bulldog squads (2023-24), Damon Wilson II is geared up with the Tigers ready to take on the SEC again, this time in a different scheme and in his natural role – as a chaos creating, punishing the quarterback defensive end.

Developing his craft at Florida football powerhouse Venice High School (Venice), Wilson left the prep ranks as one of the top players in the nation. Rated a five-star by Rivals, No. 11 overall in the 2023 class, Wilson played in 12 games for UGA as a true freshman. Time on the field expanded with the Bulldogs as a starting sophomore tallying 20 stops with 5.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three QB hurries, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

The hitch, Wilson was playing out of position in Athens. Coordinator Glenn Schumann utilized the 6-4, 250-pound, talent as an outside linebacker. Under defensive coordinator Corey Batoon in Columbia, Wilson will be turned loose with the ability to do what he was doing as a senior against top Florida competition piling up 94 tackles and 10 sacks on his way to be considered one of the best in the nation.

Getting back to being that presence on the edge has Wilson excited about the upcoming season.

“The opportunity to return to defensive end again and go back to what I do best alongside a hungry group of guys who’ve been overlooked and are ready to grind – it means everything,” Wilson said.

Wilson added, “I will be playing the Jack position this season. We will play a lot of 4-2-5; I will get vertical, do a lot of slants – be a true defensive end. Unlike last year, I will do very little dropping into coverage.”

Life in the SEC, all schedules are challenging. The Tigers host Alabama and travel to Auburn in October, then go on the road for back-to-back games against Texas A&M and Mississippi State before coming home to welcome Oklahoma in November.

Through all the tough games, getting into the Mizzou rivalry games has Wilson pumped.

“I am looking forward to the Arkansas (Battle Line Rivalry) and the Kansas (Border War) games because of the long-term rivalries,” Wilson stated.

Thanks to ONIT, fans have 2024 autographed Wilson cards to collect.

“Growing up, I used to collect NFL and college football cards,” Wilson shared. “It is cool and great to see my own cards. It is cool that people are able to purchase them for their collections.”

For the die-hard fans, Wilson is selling signed jerseys off his website DamonWilsonII.com. If not by his website or ONIT cards, fans can get autographs in-person.

“I usually sign autographs at meet ups,” Wilson said. “It is nice to know people look up to you and take time out of their day for your signature that they can keep forever.”

Asked what he likes to sign, Wilson replied, “Pictures, shirts, and the white panel footballs that are smooth. It is harder signing real footballs.”

Another opportunity Wilson has created thanks to the opening doors of Name, Image, and Likeness is giving back through a project called Crazy 8s.

“The goal is to bring fans even closer with the launch of Crazy 8s,” Wilson shared. “It is a community driven program rooted in gratitude. We are giving back to the community, recognizing those that have overcome adversity. Our plan is to give away signed jerseys and tickets to home games.”

Another opportunity to help is being created by Team Wilson.

“We were seeing guys frustrated with not making what they were worth per marketing dollars, so we figured out a way to empower them,” Wilson stated. “Through our ambassador program, we are putting NIL opportunities in their own hands. We are creating a way for athletes to have an additional way to make money.”

If that wasn’t enough, Wilson is teaming with his father to create a wellness app.

“We got into it because of the love for wellness and the desire to help people be healthier,” Wilson said. “We are working on the platform now and building out the workouts. We are including everything, tracking the amount of sunlight you get, the steps you took throughout the day, and your exercise routines.

“The workouts will start at entry level and go from there. We are setting the app up for people to do at home and with little to no equipment. A lot of people do not workout because of time, space, and equipment, we want to break those barriers.”

The generosity and want to help people go beyond Crazy 8s, the ambassador NIL program, and the workout app; Wilson has donated money back to his childhood community.

“We’ve donated almost $11,000 to my former Pop Warner and high school team,” Wilson shared. “I am very passionate about helping the next generation and Pop Warner kids. I know how badly they need things and there can be a barrier to entry sometimes based on money.

“My football journey started in Pop Warner. I spent seven years playing Pop Warner. The majority of my football memories are playing Pop Warner. The friends that I made and still have playing Pop Warner, I just wanted to give back something that gave to me for so long.”

Quick Hits

Who is the best QB you’ve played against in college?

“I’ve played against Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), and Georgia Tech’s QB – (Haynes) King. The Georgia Tech QB, he put his body on the line in that game. Jaxson got the ball out quickly. He played well against us.”

Who is the best offensive tackle you’ve played against in college?

“Kaden Proctor (Alabama).”

What was your welcome to the SEC moment?

“When we played Kentucky my freshman year, I played the majority of the game. There was one series, they went eight plays in a row; those eight plays were the hardest eight of my life. They were downhill runs, back-to-back-to-back. That was physical football. That was my welcome to the SEC moment. It was the physicality and toughness.”

What is the coolest road stadium you’ve played in so far?

“The Texas halftime show was different. They had fireworks, KD (Kevin Durant) was there, and they had a country singer there. Texas is probably one of the best ones, entertainment wise. The loudest was Tennessee. During my freshman year, their running back broke off for 60 yards, that was probably the loudest stadium I have ever been in.”