Russell Wilson '07: Precision Performance on the Field
At a meeting of the Touchdown Club of Richmond early this fall, each head football coach was called upon to discuss his team’s prospects for the upcoming season. When it was Charlie McFall’s turn, he talked about quarterback Russell Wilson and his corps of talented receivers but mentioned that he had only one lineman weighing more than 200 pounds.
A few minutes later, a highly successful Colonial District coach got up to talk and during his presentation said --jokingly, of course -- that he’d gladly trade three of his behemoth, 300-pound linemen for the Cougars’ QB.
“No deal,” said McFall without hesitation. Later, he added, “I haven’t seen the guy I’d trade Russell for even if I could. That player doesn’t exist.” High praise, to be sure, and that was before Wilson, the linchpin of the attack that has the Cougars 8-0, began putting up numbers that almost defy belief.
A few minutes later, a highly successful Colonial District coach got up to talk and during his presentation said --jokingly, of course -- that he’d gladly trade three of his behemoth, 300-pound linemen for the Cougars’ QB.
“No deal,” said McFall without hesitation. Later, he added, “I haven’t seen the guy I’d trade Russell for even if I could. That player doesn’t exist.” High praise, to be sure, and that was before Wilson, the linchpin of the attack that has the Cougars 8-0, began putting up numbers that almost defy belief.
A 6-0, 185-pound junior, Wilson has completed 144 of 246 passes for 2,351 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only four interceptions. He’s rushed 106 times, often scrambling on broken plays, for 508 yards and 10 more TD’s. The Cougars, ranked sixth in the area by the Richmond Times-Dispatch and first among Division I independent schools in the state, have scored 43 touchdowns. Wilson has had a hand in 88 percent of them.
“Russell’s athletic ability allows us to do a lot of things,” says offensive coordinator Mark Palyo. “He has great vision and poise. He can look from receiver to receiver to receiver, and if they’re covered, he has a good idea when to run or when to throw the ball away.”
Each of the Cougars’ opponents has devised a scheme to stop Wilson. Sometimes, he faces blitzing linebackers on almost every snap. At other times, he sees a three-man rush while four linebackers and four defensive backs cover the secondary.
“What sets Russell apart is that even when he’s moving, he can put the ball on target with a tight spiral,” says David Murphy, a star quarterback at Collegiate and William & Mary, the 1979 Times-Dispatch player of the year, an a charter inductee in the Cougars’ athletic hall of fame. “With him in the shotgun, what he’s going to do is no mystery, but other teams still can’t stop him.”
Lest you get the impression that Wilson is all gaudy statistics, rest assured that he’s a better person than he is an athlete. He’s unfailingly polite and looks you straight in the eye when he’s talking. He’s poised and well spoken, even when he’s facing a bank of cameras as he did moments after he led the Cougars to victory over Mills Godwin.
He’s an A/B student who takes his schoolwork seriously. He’s a standout point guard in basketball and shortstop/pitcher in baseball, and his favorite sport is whatever’s in season. He’s a team player, an attribute not lost on those who have shared the experience with him. He’s confident without the slightest air of cockiness. And he’s humble.
“My dad (Harrison, an All-Ivy League wide receiver at Dartmouth who earned a tryout with the San Diego Chargers) always told me, ‘Have humility,’” says Wilson, who also punts (39.1-yard average) and plays cornerback. “You have to be honorable with yourself and be patient. If our team keeps working together and if I take things step by step, there won’t be any problems.”
Hear what his teammates have to say.
Zach Mendez, a senior wide receiver who has caught 56 passes for 1,007 yards and 9 touchdowns: Being a receiver in a passing offense with him at quarterback is really refreshing. He puts everyone in a position to succeed. His teammates do more bragging on him that he would ever do.
Scott Pickett, a junior wide receiver with 20receptions for 320 yards and 5 TD’s: You just get the vibe that he’s so good. Everyone rises to a new level with his presence. He makes the team a lot better.
Toby Desch, senior center: Russell is definitely for real. With him, you go into every game with more confidence. He gives credit to everyone else and lets his skills speak for themselves. He never focuses on himself.
Even at 16 years old, Wilson often gets the question: What’s next? He’s received inquiries from many high-profile Division I and I-AA programs, some for football, some for baseball, and some for both sports. He’d play both (as his older brother Harry did at University of Richmond) and take a shot at basketball in the winter if time allowed.
For now, though, he’ll simply enjoy the next practice, the next game, and the next challenge. “Every day I wake up and tell myself that each day on earth is a good day and always try to put a smile on my face,” he said. “Right now, I’m not sure what I want to do after I leave Collegiate. I just know I’ll have my family, my friends, and my coaches to support me.”—Weldon Bradshaw
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“Russell’s athletic ability allows us to do a lot of things,” says offensive coordinator Mark Palyo. “He has great vision and poise. He can look from receiver to receiver to receiver, and if they’re covered, he has a good idea when to run or when to throw the ball away.”
Each of the Cougars’ opponents has devised a scheme to stop Wilson. Sometimes, he faces blitzing linebackers on almost every snap. At other times, he sees a three-man rush while four linebackers and four defensive backs cover the secondary.
“What sets Russell apart is that even when he’s moving, he can put the ball on target with a tight spiral,” says David Murphy, a star quarterback at Collegiate and William & Mary, the 1979 Times-Dispatch player of the year, an a charter inductee in the Cougars’ athletic hall of fame. “With him in the shotgun, what he’s going to do is no mystery, but other teams still can’t stop him.”
Lest you get the impression that Wilson is all gaudy statistics, rest assured that he’s a better person than he is an athlete. He’s unfailingly polite and looks you straight in the eye when he’s talking. He’s poised and well spoken, even when he’s facing a bank of cameras as he did moments after he led the Cougars to victory over Mills Godwin.
He’s an A/B student who takes his schoolwork seriously. He’s a standout point guard in basketball and shortstop/pitcher in baseball, and his favorite sport is whatever’s in season. He’s a team player, an attribute not lost on those who have shared the experience with him. He’s confident without the slightest air of cockiness. And he’s humble.
“My dad (Harrison, an All-Ivy League wide receiver at Dartmouth who earned a tryout with the San Diego Chargers) always told me, ‘Have humility,’” says Wilson, who also punts (39.1-yard average) and plays cornerback. “You have to be honorable with yourself and be patient. If our team keeps working together and if I take things step by step, there won’t be any problems.”
Hear what his teammates have to say.
Zach Mendez, a senior wide receiver who has caught 56 passes for 1,007 yards and 9 touchdowns: Being a receiver in a passing offense with him at quarterback is really refreshing. He puts everyone in a position to succeed. His teammates do more bragging on him that he would ever do.
Scott Pickett, a junior wide receiver with 20receptions for 320 yards and 5 TD’s: You just get the vibe that he’s so good. Everyone rises to a new level with his presence. He makes the team a lot better.
Toby Desch, senior center: Russell is definitely for real. With him, you go into every game with more confidence. He gives credit to everyone else and lets his skills speak for themselves. He never focuses on himself.
Even at 16 years old, Wilson often gets the question: What’s next? He’s received inquiries from many high-profile Division I and I-AA programs, some for football, some for baseball, and some for both sports. He’d play both (as his older brother Harry did at University of Richmond) and take a shot at basketball in the winter if time allowed.
For now, though, he’ll simply enjoy the next practice, the next game, and the next challenge. “Every day I wake up and tell myself that each day on earth is a good day and always try to put a smile on my face,” he said. “Right now, I’m not sure what I want to do after I leave Collegiate. I just know I’ll have my family, my friends, and my coaches to support me.”—Weldon Bradshaw
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