Michigan's Roman Wilson talks Ohio State, NIL deal supporting Maui community
Everything has gone as Roman Wilson envisioned this year on the field.
The Michigan wide receiver has doubled his touchdown output this season, closing in on the 650-yard mark in receiving yards. J.J. McCarthy has turned Wilson into his go-to target. The only thing missing from his resume is a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist.
Away from the field, Wilson’s mind has been elsewhere.
Growing up in Honolulu, he attended high school in Maui. He has plenty of friends and family who were impacted by the wildfires that broke out in August, killing at least 100 and leaving four missing in the town of Lahaina on Maui’s northwest coast.
More than 4,000 miles away in Ann Arbor, Wilson could only do so much. With the season starting, he couldn’t fly home at a moment’s notice. So, working with his agent Matthew Knox, Wilson launched an initiative with Drip House Coffee to provide support. One of his go-to coffee shops in Ann Arbor, Wilson created a custom drink and food now available on their menu, the Maui Mocha latte and the Wolverine Spam sandwich.
Running through the end of the season and College Football Playoff, 50% of all proceeds from each item sold will be directed to Aloha United Way.
Speaking to On3 on the phone last week, Wilson joked Drip House had been trying to sign a deal with him for a bit. But when he knew he wanted to use his platform to give back to friends back home, he knew who to turn to.
“It’s been tough just knowing that I got family and a lot of friends, friends who were directly affected by it,” he said. “There’s a lot of people in my life who haven’t been this blessed to be in the position that I’m in. Those people who are dealing with it, it’s really hard for them. It’s hard for me knowing that you have the opportunity to be able to do something to help out. So, I’m stuck in the season and not really having too much time to be able to do something and give back.”
While 50% of all proceeds from Wilson’s Drip House menu items will go to Aloha United Way, some of those dollars will then be directed to the Maui Wildfire Relief, the ALICE Initiative and Safety Net Fund. The ALICE Initiative supports Hawaiians living paycheck to paycheck. Roughly 44% of Hawaii households are considered ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed).
A close coffee shop to the Big House, the wide receiver said he likes stopping every once in a while. He’s most excited about adding spam to the coffee shop’s menu. The pork product is popular across The Aloha State.
“Just for this opportunity, which I think is such a small thing in the big picture of what I want to do, it’s a real blessing,” Wilson said.
Roman Wilson readying for The Game
While Roman Wilson has been working to assist those back home in Hawaii, he’s preparing for The Game on Saturday. A source said the wideout is expected to play in the 119th edition of the rivalry Saturday after leaving the Maryland game early.
In the last few weeks, allegations have surfaced that Michigan has run an illegal off-campus scouting operation, which would violate NCAA rules. Connor Stalions, the Michigan football analyst at the center of the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing efforts recently resigned from his position.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will not be on the sidelines Saturday, serving out the final game of his three-game suspension handed down by the Big Ten and first-year commissioner Tony Petitti. Harbaugh accepted the suspension last week, as his case was dismissed in Washtenaw County Court.
Wilson – who has an On3 NIL Valuation of $546,000 – is not letting the sign-stealing scandal serve as a distraction.
“For me, as far as all that noise and things, it’s been easy,” he said. “It’s my fourth year. There’s always been something going on where people are trying to hate on our program or make up some controversy. It’s been easy for me. I can’t speak for everyone else or how the coaches have been handling it. Even the people in the building, they’re all good.
“Coaches and the strength staff have done a really good job at teaching us and training us a no distractions kind of mindset.”
A year ago, the wide receiver was dealing with injuries throughout November. He finished a single catch and was a non-factor in last year’s Ohio State game. But he’s made plays in The Game before. Wilson led the Wolverines in receiving yards in its 2021 win, tallying two catches for 55 yards.
Everything is at stake on Saturday. A Big Ten East Division title and College Football Playoff berth are on the line. This year’s college football landscape won’t allow for the loser of The Game to squeak into the playoff, making Saturday an elimination game.
Roman Wilson is ready for the opportunity.
“Our coaches like to say, ‘Treat every day like it’s the Monday of Ohio State week,'” he said. “That’s kind of how we take it. So when it is the Monday of Ohio State week, nothing changes. This is how we handle businesses, and how we operate in meetings. This is the intensity of practice we’re going to have.
“It’s just a great vibe and experience to be around just a bunch of guys who are completely locked in. And about to go be part of the biggest things in history.”