Mazzi Wilkins
Cornerback
USF
Ed Hunt: What are your measurements? (Height, Weight and 40 time)
Mazzi Wilkins: I’m 6’1, 183. I don’t know my 40 time, but I’m planning on clocking 4.4’s at my pro day.
Ed Hunt: I read in the Washington Post that you received death threats after injuring McKenzie Milton. Can you tell me what that was like?
Mazzi Wilkins: It was a hectic experience. It opened my eyes to what is to come. I don’t play to injure anybody. I talked with McKenzie Milton and he is a stand-up guy. We resolved the issue, and I think he thinks I’m a stand-up guy too.
Ed Hunt: Are you better on the inside or the outside?
Mazzi Wilkins: I’m an all-around corner. I can play either.
Ed Hunt: What positions can you play?
Mazzi Wilkins: I can play any position in the secondary. Some packages in high school required me to go to safety.
Ed Hunt: Who is the best player you have faced on an opposing team?
Mazzi Wilkins: Dalvin Cook
Ed Hunt: Coming out of high school, which schools showed interest in you?
Mazzi Wilkins: I had USF, UCF and Indiana. I had quite a bit of offers coming out of high school.
Ed Hunt: What made you ultimately choose South Florida?
Mazzi Wilkins: I’m from Tampa, born and raised. I remember watching them. It just felt like home. I had good connections.
Ed Hunt: What are your strengths?
Mazzi Wilkins: I’m an overall player. I can play inside, outside, press and man.
Ed Hunt: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Mazzi Wilkins: Really just trying to put on some extra weight and add flexibility.
Ed Hunt: Describe your overall career.
Mazzi Wilkins: It had a lot of bumps in the road. My freshman year, I was primarily a special teams’ player. The best word to describe my career was resilience.
Ed Hunt: What is the highlight of your career at this point?
Mazzi Wilkins: Just being in a program where we all came together to bring the team to improve. It was a great turnaround.
Ed Hunt: I noticed you are a good open field tackler. What do you attribute this to?
Mazzi Wilkins: I feel like tackling is all want to. If the play is coming to me, money is either coming in my pocket or out of my pocket.
Ed Hunt: What have you learned the most from your coaching staff?
Mazzi Wilkins: I learned a lot. One thing is to trust the process. I learned so much about defense. I learned that the game is about playing mentally.
Ed Hunt: Is there a role you have played on special teams thus far in your career?
Mazzi Wilkins: I played kickoff. On punt, I was a gunner, and corner on punt returns. I was a four-phase special teamer.
Ed Hunt: What is your favorite NFL team?
Mazzi Wilkins: Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I was more fascinated by the players. I love football and regardless of the team, I was going to watch.
Ed Hunt: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Mazzi Wilkins: I really have three. Richard Sherman, Patrick Peterson and Aqib Talib.
Ed Hunt: What’s the most important trait for a cornerback?
Mazzi Wilkins: Confidence.
Ed Hunt: Before the ball is snapped, what tendencies are you looking for in that offense?
Mazzi Wilkins: I’m reading my keys. I’m looking at formation. I’m going through the Rolodex of the film I watched.
Ed Hunt: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Mazzi Wilkins: Terrence Horne, Johnny Ford, Jordan Cronkrite, Mike Hampton, Randall St. Felix and Bentlee Sanders.
Ed Hunt: What do you enjoy most about football?
Mazzi Wilkins: I enjoy the bond and brotherhood. Everyone has to do their one job to win. I love watching film. It is basically a statistics class. Then when you play, it is going out and perfecting your craft.
Ed Hunt: Who is your biggest role model and why?
Mazzi Wilkins: My best friend, Anthony Dean Jr. We grew up together. He instilled in me that I was going to be the greatest cornerback.
Ed Hunt: What is your definition of a leader?
Mazzi Wilkins: It’s a fine line. It is somebody who is always doing the right thing. You have to have a personality and bond with each person. Iron sharpens iron.
Ed Hunt: What do you want to do with your life after football?
Mazzi Wilkins: I want to become a firefighter.
Ed Hunt: What five words best describe you?
Mazzi Wilkins: Tough, super competitive, leader, easy-going and laid back.
Ed Hunt: Who will win the Super Bowl next year?
Mazzi Wilkins: Whatever team I am on. I would like to see the Baltimore Ravens. I like Lamar Jackson.
