 Jerrell Wedge - Photo by Miami Sports Wedge was a two-way player at Frederick Douglas High School in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. By his sophomore year, he had moved up to the varsity, and as the seasons passed, he grew more comfortable in his defensive role as a linebacker. “I like the physical part,” he said with a grin. During his three years with the Eagles varsity, Wedge totaled 375 tackles and earned a spot on the all-county team each year.
By his junior season, he had distinguished himself enough to draw an offer from Miami, to which he committed. “That took some pressure off me,” he recalled after a recent practice. Despite a shoulder injury in his senior year, Miami stayed with Wedge, who returned to the lineup after three games.
After redshirting during his freshman year on the Oxford campus, Wedge was still behind a trio of experienced linebackers – all of whom were Butkus Award nominees – in 2008. He did, however, get onto the field by participating in kickoff and punt returns.
Ironically, he recalled, it was while participating on a return team that he injured his shoulder during his final prep season. But with a chance to play as a redshirt freshman at Miami, Wedge embraced the role and its responsibilities. “With special teams, one play could change the whole game,” he said.
Asked how return teams might have helped him, the sophomore said, “You get a bit of a feel for game speed ... and it helped me a lot this year that I’ve been on the field before.”
While he wasn’t seeing much game action in plays from scrimmage, he was still benefiting from the input of Miami’s veteran linebacker corps. “Joey (Hudson) and Clayton (Mullins) helped me a lot,” Wedge said.
With the departure of Hudson and Mullins, as well as other defenders following the 2008 season, opportunity knocked on the door and waited to see who would answer in spring drills and competition. Wedge made a big impression in the spring and followed that with a solid showing in his first start. Using his “speed and hands,” he led Miami’s defense with 15 tackles against Kentucky. “I just wanted to go out there and hit somebody,” Wedge said. “The defensive line really helped me out.”
Listed at 5-9, 223 pounds, Wedge might not seem a perfect fit for a middle linebacker spot, but Miami fans might not have to think all that far back to recall another very successful 5-9 middle linebacker. Terrell Jones (5-9, 218) used his speed and intelligence to earn All-MAC First Team honors in 2001 and 2003. During the 2002 season, Jones was tabbed for the Keith Swailes Award for a junior on the basis of “enthusiasm, loyalty, football knowledge and an intense desire to win.”
Those are qualities new coach Mike Haywood expects from every one on his squad. Another expectation is that players will get the job done. To that end, upon accepting the Miami head coaching position, he quickly declared every position open.
Now that Wedge has earned his way on the field, he wants to help the RedHawks earn their first win of 2009. It won’t be easy. Although this week’s opponent, Western Michigan, is also 0-2, it might have pulled off an upset of Indiana last week had the Broncos not fumbled just outside the Indiana goal line in the closing minutes of a 23-19 loss. In fact, the Broncos fumbled on each of their last three possessions.
“Everybody is still feeling positive about this team,” Wedge said of the RedHawks, who fell to 12th ranked Boise State 48-0 last week. “This team plays hard the whole game. We don’t look at the score. We just play hard (for) 60 minutes.” |
