Built the Right Way: Jason “Deuce” Wilson Earns Opportunity at Winston-Salem State

Snow Hill — Before Jason “Deuce” Wilson ever made his decision official, Greene Central head coach Jay Wilson made one thing clear — this moment was about far more than football.

“He has tried to excel in everything he has done,” Wilson said. “Right now he is a 4.1 GPA, three-sport athlete — track, basketball, and football — all four years. He’s National Honor Society, Beta Club, National CTE Honors Program. Because of his academics and all of those things, he is able to sit at this table.”

That message wasn’t just for Deuce — it was for every athlete watching.

“As I always tell those guys sitting up here, you don’t get to sit at this table if you don’t sit at the desk and do that work in the classroom,” Wilson added. “When somebody signs, you’ve got to understand they’re here for two reasons — God gave them ability, and they did what they were supposed to do in the classroom.”

That combination — ability and accountability — is exactly what carried Wilson to his next chapter at Winston-Salem State, where he will play tight end on an athletic scholarship.

At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, Wilson has been a steady, dependable presence for Greene Central across multiple sports.

On the football field, he contributed on both sides of the ball throughout his career. As a senior, he recorded 16 receptions for 208 yards and three touchdowns, while also making an impact defensively with 36 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one forced fumble.

On the hardwood, Wilson brought physicality and effort in the paint, averaging 4.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and one steal per game during his senior basketball season.

It’s that same approach — steady, physical, team-first — that defines him.

A blue-collar player by nature, Wilson has built his reputation on doing the work without needing the spotlight. Quiet at times, but always dependable, his consistency and character have made him a trusted presence in every program he’s been part of.

Long before the offers came in, before the stats or recognition, there was a constant — his father.

If you were around Greene Central athletics over the years, you saw it. Wherever Coach Jay Wilson was, Deuce wasn’t far behind. Whether it was football, basketball, track or just Coach Wilson at practice, that presence never changed.

And that impact runs deeper than the field.

“He pushed me a lot,” Deuce said. “He treated me like any other person as a player. He told me a lot of stuff about life, what college life is, and how to just improve in it.”

That balance — father and coach — helped shape not just the player, but the young man.

Wilson also credited his family for guiding him every step of the way.

“My older brother helped me a lot with training,” he said. “My mom helped me out with eating, making sure my grades were in check, and my grandma with the studying.”

His mother, Athena Wilson, played a key role in keeping him grounded academically — a foundation that ultimately made this opportunity possible.

Wilson held offers from Barton College, Elizabeth City State, Fayetteville State, Johnson C. Smith, and Winston-Salem State, but in the end, the decision came down to more than football.

“The campus life, the students, and the fact my brother went there,” he said. “He told me a lot about it — it was amazing.”

The recruiting process itself was something he embraced.

“It was a lot of fun to see a lot of different campuses and different types of coaches,” Wilson said.

But once Winston-Salem State felt like home, the decision followed.

When Wilson finally spoke, his words reflected the same humility that has defined his journey.

“First of all, I just want to thank God, my family, my coaches, and my teammates for helping me out and pushing me through,” he said. “I am very excited. It’s an opportunity to improve my game and improve myself overall as a character.”

That mindset — growth over recognition — is exactly why this moment carries weight.

“I worked very hard for this moment,” Wilson added. “Ever since I was little, I just wanted to work for it all.”

Greene Central is sending more than an athlete to Winston-Salem State — they’re sending a player who understands what it takes to earn everything.

A student who handled the classroom.
A multi-sport athlete who stayed consistent.
And a young man shaped by years of guidance, discipline, and family support.

“We’re excited to see what happens at the next level,” Coach Wilson said. “We’re excited for him.”

Then, reflecting on the journey — not just as a coach, but as a father — Wilson paused and looked back.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said. “Thinking about when he was two or three years old, I would put a helmet on him… and now to see it come to fruition. Having the opportunity to go to camps with him, watching him from a ninth grader who was lost in the sauce at football camp to now being a player that stands out.”

Wilson, who often refers to his players as his sons, acknowledged this moment carried a different weight.

“I call all my guys my sons, and they are in some way,” he said. “But when it’s yours, it’s just a little different than the other ones you build.”

And in that moment, the story came full circle — not just about a signing, but about years of work, guidance, and a bond that helped shape the man Jason “Deuce” Wilson has become.

And if his journey so far is any indication, the work is just getting started