AUBURN, Ala. – No matter where Auburn H-back Jay Jay Wilson looks Saturday at AT&T Stadium, he'll see family.
On one sideline, his new teammates, the Auburn family he joined this summer.
On the other, his brother, Jayvaun, a freshman running back for Oregon.
"I'm excited just to see him," Jay Jay Wilson said. "We talk every day. Just to be able to see him in person and to be able to see everything he's becoming because I'm proud of him. We've been through a lot together and he's been through a lot on his own.
"Hopefully I'll get to see him on special teams and I get to welcome him to college football with these pads. If I don't, D.T. [Daniel Thomas] and Marlon [Davidson] said they'd bless him for me if they can."
Auburn H-Back Jay Jay Wilson (left) and brother Jayvaun, an Oregon running back
A do-it-all high school football star in Los Angeles, Jay Jay Wilson displayed his versatility in 37 games at Arizona State from 2015-18, contributing in all phases, first on special teams, then at tight end before moving to linebacker.
After graduating in May, he transferred to Auburn for his senior season, earning a co-starting spot at H-back with Spencer Nigh.
"It's been easier than I thought it would be because my teammates have really invited me in," Wilson said. "I feel like I earned my spot over the summer by just working hard and doing what I've always done. That's taking advantage of every opportunity I get. I think they respected me for that, so it was easier for them to welcome me in their family.
"Although it was a huge transition for me, I know that's the case for them, too, especially with guys who have been here for years."
For his final season of college football, Wilson headed east 1,750 miles from Tempe, Arizona, more than 2,100 miles from LA.
"I wanted a bunch of competition," he said. "I wanted to have the best opportunity I can have to display my talents on the field. I feel like there's no other place better for me to do that than the SEC.
"All glory to God. Somehow, some way I ended up at Auburn. I credit that to Coach Malzahn and Coach Dillingham for reaching out and taking a chance on me and believing in me so I try to take advantage of this every day."
'RELENTLESS EFFORT'
Auburn fans will get their first look at Wilson when the No. 16 Tigers meet No. 11 Oregon in the AdvoCare Classic Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC in Arlington, Texas.
"Exciting plays. Relentless effort. That's a thing I've always done," he said. "I've always tried play sideline to sideline. I've always tried to give my all. If you play with relentless effort, you're going to put yourself in position to make plays. It's all about if you're going to take advantage of those opportunities you get.
"I've always had good hands, so great catches, big plays, big blocks. I just want to do everything I can possibly do. I've got some big shoes to fill as far as Chandler Cox goes, but I feel like I can do it. I feel like I've got a lot of stuff that a lot of people here haven't seen. If I get the opportunity to show it, I'm going show it each and every Saturday."
Wilson impressed coaches and teammates during Auburn's preseason camp.
"Jay Jay comes with a skill set that we really haven't had around here in a while, which gives us some flexibility as well as some versatility to allow us to play with one personnel set," said assistant coach Larry Porter. "I think he's proven to his teammates that they can count on him, and I think because of that, it's helped expedite the friendship process."
"I think he'll bring toughness," offensive lineman Jack Driscoll said. "He's a guy who played defense at Arizona State. He's an older guy, a veteran in that room. We're excited for what he can do. He can do a lot for this offense."
With six games against teams ranked in the top 15, Wilson and the Tigers will have ample opportunities to showcase their skills.
"I can't ask for a better stage, a better platform for me to display everything I want to display," he said. "Every week's going to be a challenge and I just want to help this team get what they deserve and what they've been working for before I even got here."
'THE HAND I WAS DEALT'
One of 17 siblings, Wilson overcame a challenging childhood that included times where he served as a father figure to his younger sisters and brothers, including Jayvaun.
"I had to grow up fast, but I was okay with doing that, if that meant that he was able to still be a kid," Jay Jay said. "I was fine with it. It was the hand I was dealt. I didn't look down on it. I didn't feel bad for myself. I just embraced it because at the end of the day, I'll get to play my little brother in the Cowboys' stadium. Everything works out the way it's supposed to work out.
"I always tell myself there are sometimes we go through things where we feel life is harsh but we go through those things so other people don't have to. It's all about sacrifices. You get what you deserve at the end of the day so I just take life as it comes.
"It comes with its scars and it comes with its bruises but at the end of the day I wouldn't go back and rewrite anything. Everything I went through, everything I had to overcome I would do it again because I know I'm going to be able to be the person I am today. I love myself and I love my family and I know my family loves me for who I am. I know I wouldn't be who I am without those bumps in the road, those hard days and even the good days. It all plays out for a reason."
Jay Jay Wilson hasn't been at Auburn very long, but his outlook aligns with the opening line of the Auburn Creed. He's seen that this is a practical world, and he can count only on what he earns.
"I just love football," he said. "I feel like football has saved my life and gave me opportunities that I never would have had. I respect the game and try to give back to the game as much as it's given to me. It doesn't matter if I'm offense, defense, special teams. I treat every play like it's my last."
In the past three months, Wilson has graduated from Arizona State, moved across the country and started a new journey with new teammates in a new town. From Southern California to Southern hospitality.
"People out here are very nice," he said. "More nice than I'm used to coming from the West Coast and just being from a busy city. Being from where I'm from, it's crazy to walk down the street and people ask you how you're doing and they genuinely mean it.
"Being a new guy with fresh eyes coming in, I'm not sure my teammates know how special they are, and how special we can be together. To be around these guys and see how much hunger they have and how much they care for each other and how much love they have for each other and for this team, that they're able to accept someone like me who's new, and share the same love. I feel like that love they have for each other and that we all have for each other is going to take us farther than all the talent we have and all the hard days we've been through.
"Everything that everybody wants from us and everything that everybody expects is nothing compared to what we expect from ourselves and what we're going to do for each other."
Jay Jay Wilson wears No. 42 for Auburn. Jayvaun Wilson wears No. 20 for Oregon. While Jayvaun waits for his opportunity to contribute in Oregon's backfield, his older brother is positioned to make an instant impact for the Tigers.
"I tell him like I tell myself every day, whatever opportunity you get, take advantage of it," Jay Jay said. "He knows that. Right now, all he's focused on is getting better each day and making sure he's a great teammate for his teammates on that sideline. And try not to cheer for me too much."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer