Rivalry excitement is twofold for one-time Trojan

Allegiances were tested from the moment Caleb Wilson arrived at USC to play for a coaching staff that included his father.

Chris Wilson coached the defensive line. Caleb was a walk-on tight end.

When Caleb caught a touchdown pass during a scrimmage against Chris’ defense, the father remained a father, pumping his fist. He still doesn’t know whether anyone noticed.

“I didn’t really care,” Chris said this week.

Chris wasn’t retained when the Trojans made Clay Helton their permanent coach after last season, a victim of personal preferences.

Caleb got back at USC in the best way possible. He transferred to UCLA.

The payback wasn’t personal. Caleb moved across town to play for the Trojans’ archrival because he was offered a scholarship and a larger role on a team that was starting to feature tight ends. He gained immediate eligibility after USC granted him an unconditional release.

He’ll face his old team for the first time Saturday night at the Rose Bowl when UCLA (4-6 overall, 2-5 in Pac-12 Conference play) faces No. 13 USC (7-3, 5-2). Surprisingly, given the circumstances, it sounds like it will be more of a lovefest than a grudge match for the redshirt freshman.

“I’m excited to play against my old friends — and still my friends — and I’m excited to compete with my teammates, so that’s really it for me,” Caleb said. “I left on a good note. It wasn’t anything bad.”

Transfers between Los Angeles’ major college football teams are rare. The most notable was receiver Rod Sherman, who began his college career at UCLA and left for Pasadena City College before transferring to USC and catching the game-winning touchdown pass during the Trojans’ 1964 victory over Notre Dame.

Halfback Clarence Harvey and guard Andrew Marincovich transferred from UCLA to USC in the 1940s around the time of World War II. Walk-on quarterback Ted Landers went from being a Bruin to a Trojan in 2013 but never played in a game for either school. That’s believed to be the extent of movement between the teams before Wilson’s switch, according to research by school officials.

Wilson concedes his transition was slightly awkward. He lifted weights and attended tutoring sessions with teammates-turned-rivals before leaving campus. He also heard the inevitable smack talk once it was official he was headed to UCLA.

“‘Aw, you went across town, you went across town,’” Wilson said, recalling the chatter, “but nothing too serious.”

Chris Wilson latched on briefly with the University of Missouri before landing a job as the defensive-line coach with the Philadelphia Eagles. USC would be relegated to just another line on the resume of a coach who has served stints with 14 college and NFL teams since starting his career as a graduate assistant at Indiana State in 1993.

“You only get to be the head coach at USC one time,” Helton said when asked about his decision not to retain Chris Wilson. “There was some individuals that I had worked with in the past at certain positions that I wanted.”

Caleb’s move to UCLA coincided with the arrival of Marques Tuiasosopo, who had been his position coach at USC. Like Caleb’s father, Tuiasosopo wasn’t retained by Helton, moving on to coach UCLA’s quarterbacks under Coach Jim Mora.

Tuiasosopo vouched for Caleb as a 6-foot-5, 235-pound prospect with attributes that would lead to a corny nickname.

“We call him Allstate,” Bruins receiver Jordan Lasley said, “because he has good hands.”

Wilson has increasingly used those hands, making a season-high three catches against Oregon State last week. He has nine catches for 99 yards this season.

Wilson was on the move long before he arrived in Westwood. His childhood included stops in several states, his father having shuffled between so many coaching jobs.

Hanging around the locker room with his father gave Caleb a good idea of what he would be like to play for. It wasn’t something the son initially wanted.

“I’ve been in meeting rooms with him and he’s an intense guy,” Caleb said. “He gets after [players] and I’m like, ‘Aw, nah, I could never play with him.’ ”

His stance softened by the time he played quarterback and tight end at Gardena Serra High and his father coached at USC. It certainly didn’t hurt that the Trojans’ roster would be dotted with several high school teammates.

Being part of the same team was more exhilarating than either the father or the son had imagined. They went for walks, discussed game plans, watched each other grow.

Said Caleb: “I could just go talk to him and I was going against his guys, so it was cool.”

Said Chris: “It was probably the best experience I’ve ever had.”

Father and son both seem grateful for their time together at USC, not bitter that it didn’t last. Chris said he’s still friends with Helton, as are their wives. Caleb suggested that being a Trojan for a year and a Bruin for a lifetime was the way things were supposed to be.

“I got to be a scholarship tight end at the University of California Los Angeles,” Caleb said. “I mean, it’s pretty awesome.”

Times staff writer Zach Helfand contributed to this report.

ben.bolch@latimes.com

Twitter: @latbbolch