The recruiter who first offered Zach Wilson was front, center on draft day

New York Jets’ first round draft choice, Zach Wilson is interviewed on stage during the first round the the NFL Draft, Saturday, April 29, 2021 in Cleveland. Wilson joined the Jets as the No. 2 draft pick of the 2021 NFL draft. | Doug Benc, Associated Press

Fesi Sitake made the most of a lifetime opportunity at NFL draft

Once upon a time, seemingly ages ago, the first college recruiter to offer Zach Wilson — now the New York Jets’ No. 2 first-round pick — saw two things in a young, skinny kid.

Fesi Sitake quickly offered Wilson a scholarship to play at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

On Thursday night in Cleveland, Fesi joined a select group of Wilson’s family members, friends and coaches to witness firsthand as the Jets made Wilson the highest-drafted BYU football player in history.

Did Sitake, now BYU’s pass game coordinator, have any idea years ago that day would come and he’d be present as a first-row witness?

Such a special day for this guy. So blessed to witness such a big moment in his life. Congrats ⁦@zachkapono1⁩. Love you big dog! pic.twitter.com/a6BTY4FTnu

— Fesi Sitake (@fsitake) April 29, 2021

Of course not.

“No I didn’t — at that time,” said Sitake.

“Not that he didn’t have the ability that he could someday to be there, but there’s just so much that goes into such a big accomplishment. All I thought about at the time was college — how can he be in college. That was the lens I was looking through. I thought he had the tools but there is so much and it is so hard to be projected to be the No. 2 pick overall. Zach will be the first to tell you that.

“A lot has to do with the surrounding cast, but he deserves it and it’s just crazy that it all happened. It came so quick. But no, I’d be lying if I said I knew he would be the second overall pick from whatever first impressions I had of him.”

Two things stood out to Sitake about Wilson back in the day, before he became a star at Corner Canyon High School and then BYU.

“First was his charisma, his personality and how much he loved football. Second, it was his sheer arm talent and what he could do throwing the football,” said Sitake.

Both of those Sitake judgments proved themselves this week when the pick by the Jets opened the door for Wilson to get generational money for being taken that high.

A night and call I will never forget. Thank you @NYJets! Can’t wait to get started. So blessed and thankful
J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets! pic.twitter.com/IWBRtge56w

— Zachary Wilson (@zachkapono1) April 30, 2021

Sitake received an invitation to be at a draft day party at the Wilson’s home in Draper. But when the NFL asked Wilson to be in Cleveland on draft day as part of the ABC/ESPN live broadcast, Sitake found himself on a plane, all expenses paid.

“I don’t know who paid for it, probably the NFL, but whomever it was had a lot of money,” said Sitake. He learned of the trip to Cleveland in a phone call.

“I was just completely humbled and made sure that I did my part in letting him know, ‘Hey, I don’t need a call like this. Don’t feel any obligation.’”

But the Wilson family insisted.

Sitake could not turn down a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be there for a player he’d recruited, worked alongside and witnessed develop.

In addition to Fesi Sitake, elevated from BYU receivers coach to pass game coordinator in the offseason, those invited were his cousin, BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake, along with current BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, who offered Wilson a scholarship to BYU, as well as his Corner Canyon High School football coach Eric Kjar and former BYU quarterback John Beck.

As his coaches returned back home over the weekend, Wilson left Cleveland for New York where he met with the media and team officials.

Before the media in Cleveland, Wilson shared a letter from his parents that brought a little emotion to his eyes. The letter praised the work of “incredible teammates and coaches” he worked with at BYU.

Moments after being drafted, @NYJets QB Zach Wilson was surprised with a letter from his parents ❤️ @zachkapono1 pic.twitter.com/SFZYkodIJx

— NFL (@NFL) April 30, 2021

Part of the letter, which he said was likely written by his mother, Lisa, read:

“When the world stopped turning due to a global pandemic, when so many others froze, you chose to live big, you trained and studied harder than ever before.

“Your refusal to quit and positive attitude brought a light to so many during a difficult time.”

So closes a chapter in a very unique story of the Wilson family, whose journey took them away from their roots as Utah fans where he father Mike once played, to rival BYU. And that only happened because of Utah football’s commitment to a prep sensation QB who signed and then transferred to a Big Ten school.

It has to be one of the strangest twists in local college football history, rivalry history really because, by all bloodlines and ties, history and interest, Zach Wilson should have followed his father to Utah.

But he used that, plus many other motivating challenges, to place a chip on his shoulder, close his mouth and simply work his tail off to reach a lofty goal of playing in the NFL.

That he is now the highest-drafted BYU player of all time?

Well, that’s stuff movie scripts are made of, and he’s in a place where it all begins again, on a team that once took Joe Namath No. 1.

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