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Wilson Picked in the First Round

By Joey Accordino
SouthernPigskin.com
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When scouting Virginia Tech RB David Wilson, the New York Giants saw an explosive back, with a powerful lower base and kick return ability.

“A reach,” “a bit of a stretch,” and “surprising.” This was the verbiage used by major media outlets to describe the New York Giants’ selection of Virginia Tech running back David Wilson with the last pick in the 2012 NFL Draft’s First Round. Clearly the likes of ESPN and the NFL Network did not believe that the defending world champion Giants were beyond reproach in this weekend’s NFL Draft, citing a shaky offensive line as the reason that the Wilson selection was misguided.

Wilson’s game tape, however, begs to differ. The Giants saw an explosive back, with a powerful lower base and kick return ability. They saw a back who broke 140 tackles this season, including four in a highlight-reel run versus Clemson this season. (Youtube it, you won’t regret it). They saw an All-American triple jumper who is a capable receiver, and a class act who regularly wore shirts and ties to his classes at Virginia Tech.

More importantly, they saw a player that can pay immediate dividends in their title defense. The Giants finished dead last in rushing yards last season, averaging a paltry 89.2 yards per game, a far cry from the 137.5 yards per game they averaged in 2010. With a bloated Brandon Jacobs off to San Fransisco, Wilson will help fellow Virginia native Ahmad Bradshaw carry the load.

Wilson is not without faults. He doesn’t have the size to be an every-down back, and cuts outside more than he should. Wilson, though, believes he will be a major asset in year one. “Ahmad Bradshaw has held down that position pretty well,’’ Wilson said yesterday. “[I’m] looking forward to coming down there and competing with him. We’re both going to be making plays and making the team better.’’

The Giants agree.

"He's an enthusiastic player, a guy that loves to play football. He’s going to bring a lot of personality," GM Jerry Reese told reporters, adding with a smile: "You guys will like him."
 

Joey Accordino - Joey Accordino hails from the great state of Virginia, home of football legends Willie Lanier and Bruce Smith, as well as canine enthusiast Michael Vick. When his dreams of playing in the National Football League were dashed by a crippling lack of athleticism, he settled for writing about football. He has written, blogged, and podcasted on various sites across the interwebs, and specializes in the NFL Draft. He encourages you to leave comments on his stories, preferably ludicrous ones.