The Enterprise - COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Stoughton’s Joe Wilder top offensive lineman in MASCAC
By: Jim Fenton, The Enterprise
The Framingham State left tackle finished his career by making the all-conference team for a third time in addition to being selected the MASCAC offensive lineman of the year.
Three months after graduating from Stoughton High School in 2014, he was in the starting lineup for the Framingham State University football team.
Joe Wilder lined up at offensive left tackle against Endicott College on opening day, beginning his run as a four-year starter for the Rams at that spot.
Wilder excelled in his four years on Framingham State's line, being named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference offensive lineman of the year this season and making the all-conference team three times.
The Stoughton resident was a reliable player for the Rams while they went 37-7, won three Division 3 bowl games and appeared once in the NCAA Division 3 tournament.
"One of the hardest things at our level of college football is finding offensive linemen,″ said Framingham State coach Tom Kelley. "I equate it to trying to find a center in basketball. There's not a lot of them out there.
"To play all four years, that doesn't happen very often, especially with the injuries you have these days.
"That's not going to be an easy one to replace.″
The Rams averaged at least 34 points and better than 400 yards per game in three of Wilder's four seasons.
This season, Framingham State (10-1) scored nearly 35 points per game and had a running back, Quron Wright, gain 1,160 yards.
Wilder, a two-year captain, had a lot of do with the success of the offense throughout his career.
"He was probably the most consistent (lineman) we ever had,″ said Kelley. "He likes to get his hands dirty and he's tenacious, just a tough kid.
"He's a good student, never a problem off the field, worked hard, just a blue-collar kid. He came to work every day and never, ever had an issue with him.″
Wilder, a biology major who would like to become a science teacher, was ready to go when he arrived at Framingham State in the summer of 2014.
He learned the college game on the fly as a freshman, gaining valuable experience.
"I wasn't sure about my expectations coming in,″ said the 6-foot-2, 275-pound Wilder. "They told me they needed offensive linemen. I just kind of went in there, worked hard in the summer and ended up starting that year.
"The speed of the game was a huge adjustment. I had to learn a whole new offense and the offensive philosophy. But towards the end of the season, it started clicking. It just took a while to get all the footwork down.″
Wilder earned a spot on the All-MASCAC first team as a sophomore and senior, and was on the second team as a junior.
"I definitely improved a lot,″ said Wilder. "My footwork got better. Putting on size, working in the weight room helped.″
Wilder suffered an ankle injury during the Rams' lone loss this season against Plymouth State and had to sit out against Westfield State.
He was not at full strength down the stretch, but Wilder continued to be effective.
Coaches around the MASCAC took notice at what he did, naming him the best offensive lineman in the conference.
"It's a great way to end my career,″ said Wilder, who did not allow a sack this season. "I couldn't have done it without my coaches and teammates. They put me in a good position to be successful.
"I wasn't really sure how things were going to work out. I kind of put my head down and went to work every day and it ended up happening.″
Kelley and the Rams will have to find a replacement now for a player they have relied on since opening day of 2014.
Wilder impressed Kelley during the recruiting process out of Stoughton, and he fulfilled that promise during the four-year run.
"We watched an awful lot of film on him coming out of high school,″ said Kelley, "and the more film we watched on him offensively and defensively, the thing that stood out was his motor. He was always in the play, always doing something extra.″
After playing football since the age of 9 in a Stoughton youth league, Wilder suited up for the last time last weekend when the Rams defeated Curry, 48-14, in the New England Bowl.
"It was definitely tough knowing that was my last game that I'll ever play, not only in college but my last football game ever,″ said Wilder. "It was a lot of games.″