Sam Wilder is expecting a much stronger season for Spanish Fort this year, and some would say he is demanding it. That intensity defines his on-field personality.
A 6-foot-3, 260-pound senior defensive end for the Toros, Wilder thrives on the physicality and pressure of the game. Head coach Chase Smith sees him as the ideal leader for his defense.
“Sam’s your pit bull,” Smith said. “Sam is the epitome of a defensive lineman. You know, Sam is that vocal wild man. And then Sam’s going out there making plays that back that up. Whether it’s at defensive end chasing down a jet sweep, or the effort. He is an effort guy. And I think that position bodes well for that. I think he’s destructive. He’s very physical. He’s a very, very, very smart player.”
Wilder carries high expectations. Last season the Toros finished 4-6 and missed the playoffs for the first time in 17 seasons, an outcome that did not sit well with him or his teammates. Now competing in Class 5A, Region 1 following the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) realignment that splits state championship play between private and public schools, Spanish Fort will share its region with Saraland, Theodore, Gulf Shores, Murphy, Elberta, Baldwin County and Blount.
Focused on the small things
Still, Wilder said his only concern is his own team.
“We’re going to be consistent all year,” Wilder said at this year’s Baldwin County Football Media Day. “That’s the main thing that we’ve preached from the very beginning of the offseason this year — we’re going to do the small things very, very well. The things that we can control, we’re going to control. We’re going to be in full control of all those things — our effort, how physical we are, being on time — the small things. And we’re going to do that at a very, very good level.”
He acknowledged the roster is short on experience but long on unity.
“We have five seniors and we don’t have all the talent in the world. We don’t have all the experience in the world. But I don’t think that necessarily wins you games. We’ve had a very talented group last year, an extremely talented group. But inside the locker room, it’s nowhere near [what we have] this year. And so I think doing the small things really, really well is what is going to separate us this year.”
A recruiting target
Last season Wilder recorded 75 total tackles with 22.5 tackles for a loss, adding six sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He is drawing interest from college programs including South Alabama, Southern Miss, Army, Georgia Southern and Louisiana, with South Alabama viewed as the current front-runner.
For now, though, his focus is entirely on the Toros.
“We know what Spanish Fort has always been, and we plan to get back to that this year,” he said. “Last year there was no leadership. We were not as bonded as we are this year.”
Spanish Fort hosts Daphne on Thursday, Aug. 20, in its season opener.