When the news broke that Fehoko would be signing, Wilson’s wife Sophia – herself an accomplished Stanford athlete – told Wilson she couldn’t believe his new team was collecting his old teammates. Wilson has enjoyed the nostalgia of the moment.
“Your success in the pros affects your lifestyle at home,” Wilson said. “Naturally, and I fall victim of this myself, you’re going to be a little more self-interested in the NFL than college because (the money and job) affects your life outside of the building. In college, it feels so genuine, you’re going to be there three to five years, living with teammates, eating with them. In the pros, you practice and you go home.”
Now, eating breakfast or lunch together brings the three back to that time in Palo Alto. They have looked up Snapchat memories and old photos.
But Fehoko has also tapped into the practicality of having the two as teammates again, leaning on Higgins and especially Wilson for questions about the playbook just like he did in college.
“It comes full circle,” Fehoko said with a smile.
The trio can afford to feel memory lane for now. This is the time of year where players learn without the heavy pressure of knowing cuts are imminent. Wilson and Higgins are certainties to be on the roster come September; Fehoko has work to do to remain with his longtime friends as the offseason-ending mandatory minicamp begins this week.
But as GM Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon continue to reshape the roster, it can’t hurt to have the kind of players who are smart enough to have attended Stanford.
“Stanford guys are known for taking things seriously and do things the right way,” Higgins said. “I think the two guys and myself, we do the right thing more times than not. It’s special to be on the same team.”