‘No greater feeling’: Noah Wilder finishes off storied UAB career in Bahamas Bowl

UAB linebacker Noah Wilder has swam in the salty warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. He has felt the smooth white sand between his toes along the beaches of the coast. He even got the air-brushed t-shirt.

However, Wilder never gazed upon the sunrise as it crept over the horizon of the Atlantic Ocean, nor swam with dolphins.

That was until his final week as a UAB football player.

Wilder and his Blazer teammates enjoyed a week in paradise but look to get down to business as they close out the season against Miami (OH) in the 2022 HomeTown Lenders Bahamas Bowl, Friday, Dec. 16, at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.

Kickoff is set for 10:30 a.m. on ESPN.

“We played there in 2017, wasn’t on the team then, but I heard those guys talk about how cool it is down there,” Wilder said. “It’s ironic we’re going there to finish it off. Making more memories, and the best of it, because these have been some of the best years of my life.”

Read more on UAB football:

Position breakdown for UAB vs. Miami (OH) in the Bahamas Bowl

Where UAB ranks in national stats heading into bowl season

UAB closes out Bill Clark era in Bahamas Bowl

During Wilder’s time with the Blazers, the program won three straight division titles and two C-USA championships, and achieved bowl eligibility for a seventh consecutive season. Despite the run of recent success, UAB faced more adversity this season since the program was dismissed and eventually reinstated.

Former head coach Bill Clark suddenly retired at the end of June, due to health issues related to his back, and offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent took over as interim head coach for the 2022 season.

Despite a deep and talented roster, the Blazers started the season 2-2, losing both games by a total of 11 points and giving away multiple turnovers, but rebounded with two straight wins before hitting a three-game losing streak, losing starting quarterback Dylan Hopkins in the process, and slipping to 4-5 with three games remaining.

UAB put itself in position for bowl eligibility with a win over North Texas and secured a berth in the Bahama Bowls with a win at Louisiana Tech in the regular-season finale. While most teams could have folded in facing such adversity, the Blazers managed to stay the course and Wilder equates that mentality to the program’s foundational mindset.

“That says a lot about our history here at UAB,” he said. “We built a strong foundation of always sticking together and family is family. Coach (Bryant) Vincent has been a big part of that too. With everything that happened, we never once doubted ourselves. We’re always going to stick true to what we are and trust the guys that laid the foundation. Things didn’t go the way we wanted but, at the end of the day, this has been one of my favorite seasons since I’ve been here. A lot of comradery and amazing to see a collective group of guys sticking together and staying true to each other.”

Wilder, a Woodstock, Alabama native, was not rated by any recruiting service coming out of Bessemer Academy and signed with Gardner Webb in 2017. He did not record any stats during his true freshman season and decided to transfer back closer to home at UAB, where he sat out the 2018 season due to then-NCAA transfer rules.

Entering the 2019 season, the now sixth-year senior made quite the impression during fall camp and earned a starting role alongside former UAB linebacker and safety Kris Moll, who finished his career this season at Washington.

Assuming the role as UAB’s defensive on-field play-caller, Wilder has appeared in all 47 games since 2019 and missed only one start during his four-year career with the Blazers. He earned second-team All-C-USA honors in 2020, helping lead UAB to its second C-USA title, and was an honorable mention last season.

Wilder was the third-leading tackler in C-USA this season and selected first-team All-C-USA, amassing 102 tackles (4.5 for loss), 2 pass breakups and 2 fumble recoveries. He was also named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week for an 18-tackle performance against Georgia Southern.

For his career, Wilder will finish third on UAB’s all-time tackles list following the Bahamas Bowl and currently has 330 tackles (24.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 4 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. But it’s the memories of playing college football that he prizes more than accolades and numbers.

“I’m truly, truly, blessed to be able to go out there and help my team as much as I can,” Wilder said. “I hope I can make them proud and do everything I can to get them a win. This game means a lot to me, but also to a lot of my buddies on this team. I’m excited about this game. It being my last college game, it’s emotional to think about it. These years have really flown by.”

In the return season of 2017, the Blazers started their impressive bowl streak in the Bahamas Bowl, a 49-6 blowout to Ohio, and Wilder and his fellow seniors are prepared to avenge and end the Clark era where it all came to fruition five years ago.

“We’re going to enjoy ourselves and have fun, but these last few practices have been really good,” Wilder said. “We’re serious about this game and want to go out the right way. The right way is getting a win and that’s the ultimate goal. It would be no greater feeling to get a win for these guys and coaches that started this foundation at UAB. It’s a blessing just to be a part of it.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.