Russell Wilson '07: The Hectic Life of the Recruit
Russell Wilson has been a very busy young man this summer. Such is life
when you’re the most heavily recruited athlete in Collegiate School
history. What follows are the highlights of his adventures during his
respite from classes.
The first actually occurred on May 20 when he joined 200-plus high profile football prospects from around the country at the Scout.com All-American Combine in Louisville. Then, after exams ended, the 6-0, 193-pound senior took part in one-day elite camps at Vanderbilt, University of North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Duke, and Ohio State. At each stop, he put his prodigious talents as a quarterback on display, received pointers from college coaches and players, and was evaluated for personal attributes that would project success – on and off the field -- at the next level.
When you’re as athletically gifted and as nice a guy as Wilson, you don’t apply for these opportunities. You’re invited.
The first actually occurred on May 20 when he joined 200-plus high profile football prospects from around the country at the Scout.com All-American Combine in Louisville. Then, after exams ended, the 6-0, 193-pound senior took part in one-day elite camps at Vanderbilt, University of North Carolina, N.C. State, Wake Forest, Duke, and Ohio State. At each stop, he put his prodigious talents as a quarterback on display, received pointers from college coaches and players, and was evaluated for personal attributes that would project success – on and off the field -- at the next level.
When you’re as athletically gifted and as nice a guy as Wilson, you don’t apply for these opportunities. You’re invited.
“College coaches talk about his presence and leadership,” said Charlie McFall, Collegiate’s head football coach, “and they’re shocked by his arm strength. He hasn’t disappointed anyone at any of the camps he’s attended.”
In June, the Richmond Times-Dispatch twice summoned him for photo ops. One week, he appeared in the newspaper as the first-team shortstop on the All-Metro baseball team. A few days later, he was recognized as the male athlete of the year in Central Virginia. By this time, his face is familiar to readers of the T-D. He was also its football player of the year.
For the third summer, Wilson is playing America Legion baseball for Post 125. In the 7 games for which he’s been available, he’s hit .520 with 2 doubles, 3 triples, a home run, and 10 runs batted in. He’s also stolen 5 bases.
This weekend, he and 63 other top baseball players from the Virginia will participate in the Commonwealth Games in Roanoke. Later this summer he’ll compete in top-flight tournaments in Wilmington, NC, and Long Beach, CA., with the best America has to offer and a bevy of big league scouts in attendance.
When time allows, he joins his basketball teammates for open gyms and pickup games and, as the returning point guard, has high hopes of leading the Cougars to Prep League supremacy. He’s also been a regular in the weight room and has worked on timing with this fall’s corps of receivers. A couple of weeks ago, he even pulled a tour of duty on a Habitat for Humanity project in Hanover County.
All this, while sorting through phone calls, text messages, and correspondence delivered to the Wilson mailbox from suitors for his athletic services after he leaves Collegiate in June. In typical Russell fashion, he considers each inquiry carefully and even has a 4x3x3-foot box plus two shoeboxes with letters from colleges arranged alphabetically.
His plan, as he’s said all along, is to play football and baseball, and N.C. State, Duke, Army, and VMI have made scholarship offers for both. Others are sure to follow, several schools have extended him full rides just for football, and he’s waiting patiently, confident that he’ll make the right call.
“I’m strongly considering several schools,” he said, “but there’s no favorite right now. I don’t want to make my decision too early and be wrong or wait too late and miss a great opportunity. My faith in God…He’ll let me know when I’m ready.”
Whoever lands Wilson will get a young man with not only superb athletic talent but also maturity beyond his 17 years, humility, poise, confidence without a trace of arrogance, and a clear understanding of the team concept.
“With Russell, it’s not ‘me,’ said Mark Palyo, Collegiate’s offensive coordinator who as a college player and coach has seen recruiting from every angle. “It’s not flamboyant. He’s not like that at all. He has a great work ethic. He’s definitely earned his success. Russell is the kind of person you want to represent your university.” — Weldon Bradshaw
Back
In June, the Richmond Times-Dispatch twice summoned him for photo ops. One week, he appeared in the newspaper as the first-team shortstop on the All-Metro baseball team. A few days later, he was recognized as the male athlete of the year in Central Virginia. By this time, his face is familiar to readers of the T-D. He was also its football player of the year.
For the third summer, Wilson is playing America Legion baseball for Post 125. In the 7 games for which he’s been available, he’s hit .520 with 2 doubles, 3 triples, a home run, and 10 runs batted in. He’s also stolen 5 bases.
This weekend, he and 63 other top baseball players from the Virginia will participate in the Commonwealth Games in Roanoke. Later this summer he’ll compete in top-flight tournaments in Wilmington, NC, and Long Beach, CA., with the best America has to offer and a bevy of big league scouts in attendance.
When time allows, he joins his basketball teammates for open gyms and pickup games and, as the returning point guard, has high hopes of leading the Cougars to Prep League supremacy. He’s also been a regular in the weight room and has worked on timing with this fall’s corps of receivers. A couple of weeks ago, he even pulled a tour of duty on a Habitat for Humanity project in Hanover County.
All this, while sorting through phone calls, text messages, and correspondence delivered to the Wilson mailbox from suitors for his athletic services after he leaves Collegiate in June. In typical Russell fashion, he considers each inquiry carefully and even has a 4x3x3-foot box plus two shoeboxes with letters from colleges arranged alphabetically.
His plan, as he’s said all along, is to play football and baseball, and N.C. State, Duke, Army, and VMI have made scholarship offers for both. Others are sure to follow, several schools have extended him full rides just for football, and he’s waiting patiently, confident that he’ll make the right call.
“I’m strongly considering several schools,” he said, “but there’s no favorite right now. I don’t want to make my decision too early and be wrong or wait too late and miss a great opportunity. My faith in God…He’ll let me know when I’m ready.”
Whoever lands Wilson will get a young man with not only superb athletic talent but also maturity beyond his 17 years, humility, poise, confidence without a trace of arrogance, and a clear understanding of the team concept.
“With Russell, it’s not ‘me,’ said Mark Palyo, Collegiate’s offensive coordinator who as a college player and coach has seen recruiting from every angle. “It’s not flamboyant. He’s not like that at all. He has a great work ethic. He’s definitely earned his success. Russell is the kind of person you want to represent your university.” — Weldon Bradshaw
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