MILWAUKEE – Former North Carolina State quarterback Russell Wilson is headed to Wisconsin, potentially solving one of the biggest hurdles standing between the Badgers and a Big Ten title.
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said Monday that Wilson will compete for the Badgers’ starting job in the fall. The two-sport star most recently played in the Colorado Rockies’ minor league system but apparently is ready to hang up his baseball spikes.
“This is an unusual situation, especially for a program that prides itself on developing players throughout their careers, as we do here at Wisconsin,” Bielema said in a statement released by the school. “However, this is a special situation and Russell is the type of player and person that fits very well with our team.”
Wilson has one year of eligibility remaining and can play right away. He will attend graduate school at UW. This past April, Diverse named Wilson its 2011 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar male honoree; the award recognizes academic and athletic excellence in college student-athletes.
Wilson also considered Auburn before settling on Wisconsin.
In an appearance on ESPN’s “College Football Live” Monday afternoon, Wilson said he didn’t seek any assurances from Wisconsin’s coaching staff about being the No. 1 quarterback.
“I never want to be told that I have the starting job,” Wilson said. “I never believe in that that. I believe that being the competitor that I am, you have to compete every single day.”
