NFL Draft: Interview with UAB LB Noah Wilder
Noah Wilder, a linebacker from UAB, had football in his veins from an early age. Since 5 years old, he played football with his family and his love of the game grew to a professional level.
Since high school, Wilder continued to add to his polished resume. He was named the three-time AISA All-State selection by the Alabam Sportswriters Association, 2nd Team All-Conference USA, Conference USA Honorable Mention and USA Defensive Player of the Week in the 2022 season. Wilder also has 339 career tackles, the third most in UAB history.
His journey began when he was young, enjoying the game however he could until it sprouted professionally.
“I was blessed enough to be able to have the opportunity to go play football at a place in Boiling Springs, North Carolina called Gardner-Webb,” said Wilder. “I learned a lot from some of the coaches there and I thank them for taking a shot on a kid like me, and I grew a lot that year as a freshman.”
Growing up in Alabama and having his mom go to UAB, it was a clear decision that he would ultimately end up playing for the same college. Wilder was a walk-on after transitioning to this school, and the transition to him was “a blessing.”
His college experience at UAB was a blessing, but COVID-19 was a blessing in disguise in his college playing career.
“Those weeks we couldn’t work out was some of the biggest growth I’ve ever had,” Wilder said.
He remembers reflecting on some things he needed to do to improve his athleticism, and the pandemic allowed him to work on those things. In essence, it allowed him to refocus and get back to where he needed to be.
Wilder talked about training with his cousins and staying at his grandparents' house when the pandemic happened.
“I was like, ‘Man, we’re on shutdown, why don’t we stay here and all just grind together?’” Wilder said.
That’s exactly what they did. They took an old barn and used it as a makeshift weight-lifting room. Another interesting thing he and his cousins did was pushed cars. Yes, pushed cars around to build strength.
But when the world opened back up, Wilder was grateful to be able to compete in his home state of Alabama.
“My coaches really believed in me and really stuck with me and pushed me to be the best I can be,” Wilder said.
That hard work and support shaped Wilder to gear up for the NFL Draft. One of his biggest motivations in getting ready for the call is to fall in love with the process.
“To love playing the game, you gotta love putting in the work, too,” Wilder said about his preparation physically and mentally. The physical preparation helps coincide with keeping his mental right as he’s staying away from getting complacent. “I’m gonna do whatever it takes,”
This is what excites him and his family about the next few months. His drive and determination landed him the opportunity to be able to say he declared for the Draft.
“I’m the first in my family to play college sports and to go this far is a blessing,” Wilder said. “It’s very special for me to be able to come here and be able to set out and do what I’ve always wanted to do as a kid…It’s bigger than me, I just want to make them proud.”
Because of the “dog mentality,” we see younger players breaking out in the NFL and becoming immediate playmakers on the field. This, in turn, motivates Wilder to get his opportunity potentially next season.
“[It] shows that the hard work you put in will pay off,” Wilder said.
He went on to discuss how this gives the next generation of players in the NFL the opportunity to step up.
While the younger players are stepping up, Wilder also looks to veteran players who are like him and also have immense football knowledge. One player, in particular, is former middle linebacker Zach Thomas, who wasn’t the tallest but he was a great player.
Building off of that point, Wilder considers himself “undersized,” however, his heart and determination for the game is something that stands him out from the crowd.
“When I step on the field it’s just me against you,” Wilder said. “[I] was raised to never quit, No matter what, I’m not gonna quit,”
This advice is something he would give to younger football players looking to be in the same position.
“When you feel like you’ve made it, like you’ve arrived, you’ve never really arrived,” Wilder said on continuing to get better.
Check out the full Noah Wilder interview on the First & Jenn podcast.
