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By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor
With college baseball season now here, SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett takes a look at NC State two sport star Russell Wilson. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan of us on Facebook at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson is essentially a one man stat sheet. Passing yards, touchdowns, completions, attempts; he spits out more numbers than a grocery store check-out register.
You may know him best for his silky-smooth motions and quick-strike ability as the rising junior signal caller for the Wolfpack. One of the nation's most productive quarterbacks, Wilson led the ACC with 31 passing touchdowns in 2009. In both of his college seasons, he has led the league in scores. Wilson now has two year totals of 48 passing touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. For point of reference, ACC legend and the number three overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft Matt Ryan had 46 passing touchdowns and 29 interceptions his junior and season seasons.
Though best known for his prowess on the football field, it may be Wilson's ability on the baseball diamond that allows him to cash in.
While most league quarterbacks are looking ahead to spring practice, Wilson is already playing, though with a cap and a glove. The star quarterback doubles as an infielder for NC State. As a freshman, he hit .296 with two home runs. Starting 22 games as a sophomore, Wilson compiled 13 runs scored, ten RBI's and excelled as an infielder defensively. This spring, Wilson will skip football practice to focus entirely on baseball. The Wolfpack are expected to once again be in contention in the brutal ACC. NC State came within one game of making the College World Series a season ago.
Last spring was a trying one for the dual-sport star as he juggled both baseball and football spring practice. The constant switch prevented the talented athlete from being able to find his rhythm and therefore contribute as much as he would have liked in 2009. One of the best prep talents coming out of the state of Virginia in high school, Wilson hopes a full-time commitment to the Wolfpack baseball team will pay dividends in terms of him finding his consistency.
"I'm trying to help the team the best I can," Wilson said. "I'm trying to get better as a baseball player. I think I have definitely done that so far. I just have to keep working."
Expectations are high for the junior as, as an upperclassmen, he has some experience to rely on to couple with his natural ability.
"Russell is such a great athlete that he makes up ground fast," NC State baseball coach Elliot Avent said. "His work ethic is second to very few people. The guy sees himself in places most people wish themselves to be. Russell works his way there."
Avent will use Wilson as a pitcher this season; in high school, the quarterback played both infield and pitcher for Richmond Collegiate High School. Judging from his ability to zip passes between defenders on the football field, many are excited to see how Wilson might perform when given the opportunity to pitch for the Wolfpack.
"All you have to do is play catch with him a few times to know how hard he can throw the ball. I had to do that the first couple of seasons when no one else was around and he wanted to work on baseball," Avent explained. "He has all the things you want in pitching. He knows what to do with the ball. We decided to give him that chance. He wanted to do whatever he could to get on the field. We didn't really know what was going to happen with him as a position player, so we now have a dual way of getting him on the field."
NC State opened their baseball season with a 32-3 romp of La Salle on Friday. Wilson scored a run and had three defensive assists in the record-setting win.
The beneficiary of Wilson's absence from spring practice will be sophomore Mike Glennon. The younger brother of former Virginia Tech quarterback Sean, Mike has impressive physical skills and will get plenty of first-team repititions in the weeks to come.
"Mike will have a lot of opportunity," O'Brien said. "It will be good for Mike. He can certainly make the fall interesting if he has a great spring."
Wilson plans to return to the NC State football team once the baseball season is over, but that may depend on the 2010 MLB first-year player draft set for this June. MILBProspects.com recently ranked Wilson as the 150th best prospect for this summer's MLB Draft. A high selection could result in Wilson leaving his cleats in Raleigh and taking his spikes to the minor league circuit.
As a remarkably talented quarterback and a baseball prospect with high upside, Wilson will have big choices to make in the coming months. Baseball season is in full swing; football season waits on the horizon. In more ways than one, the NC State star will have a calculated decision to make this summer.
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