The football team’s practice complex swarmed with TV news cameras and satellite vans Friday, all waiting for one player. They lined up, eyeing Russell Wilson as he made his way off the practice field.
Despite the swarm that met him, Wilson remained cool. He’s used to being the center of attention, even from his high school days at Collegiate School in Richmond, Va.
“He’s really been in the limelight his whole life,” Mark Palyo, Wilson’s high school football coach, said. “He’s always represented himself and his family well.”
Wilson, a redshirt freshman, is part of a long line of family athletes. The San Diego Chargers drafted Wilson’s father as a wide receiver, and his brother played receiver at the University of Richmond.
“Ever since I was little, I always threw to my brother and my Dad at night,” Wilson said. “When it comes to football, [quarterback is] always the position I wanted to play.”
But besides the experience of being in the spotlight, Wilson’s experience in a dual quarterback system may be even more beneficial to him this season. Coach Tom O’Brien made sure to note Friday that both Wilson and graduate student Daniel Evans will play at South Carolina and did not rule out the same situation for future games.
Wilson thrived in a two-quarterback system his sophomore year in high school, helping lead Collegiate to a state championship — his first of three straight.
“Russell is again in the position of being a young quarterback with an older vet with him,” Palyo said. “For us, he was always willing to do whatever was best for the team. He worked very well in it, and he understood his role.”
Wilson split time with Michael Jarvis, a quarterback who was a year ahead of him and who now plays lacrosse at UNC.
“They were both very supportive of each other,” Palyo said. “You cannot have a two-quarterback system if the two quarterbacks aren’t working hand in hand with each other.”
Like many high school quarterbacks, mobility was Wilson’s strong point. Palyo remembers the state championship game in Wilson’s senior year. Palyo had Wilson run a quarterback draw 14 times in a row.
“He sent someone back to the sideline and told him ‘Tell coach I’m getting a little tired out here,'” Palyo said. “He was just joking, but that’s one of the best things about Russell — he’s so personable, but he’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
Palyo said he has had plenty of people asking him about how Wilson has been holding up through the quarterback battle that lasted nearly the entire off-season. Through it all, Palyo and his assistant coaches noticed Wilson’s usual positive attitude.
“You can tell just from being around him that he’s a leader,” Palyo said. “You believe he will get the job done and that he’ll put himself in the right position.”
Reporters grilled Wilson on his size — the 5-feet-11-inch quarterback has been questioned about his height all summer — and the pressure of playing his first game in a hostile SEC environment on national television.
“I’m not worried about the pressure,” Wilson said. “I’m just worried about pushing my team up and down the field, and hopefully we’ll come home with a win.”
Russell Wilson – a marketing dream?– Taylor Auten
Is starting quarterback Russell Wilson the ideal candidate for sports apparel endorsements once he leaves the Wolfpack? Russell Athletic and Wilson Sporting Goods are both popular companies that sell clothing and sports equipment nationwide.
However, according to Ralph Cindrich, the chief operating officer of Debartolo Sports and Entertainment, a name can only go so far.
“While the name can help, the key is whether the athlete is a top player and person,” Cindrich said. “That matters most and pulls in the advertisers.”
Al Lerner of Lerner Sports Marketing said until Wilson is a star NFL quarterback, his name is not worth much money.
“To tell you the truth, unless he is as good as Peyton Manning, it doesn’t mean much,” Lerner said. “I got four quarters and one nickel, and I’m willing to give him that if he’s willing to endorse.”
