Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson has had quite a year. After winning the Champ Sports Bowl against the West Virginia Mountaineers, 23-7, on Dec. 28, 2010, Wilson appeared ready to give up the gridiron with the N.C. State Wolfpack for the baseball diamond. A few weeks later he committed to the Colorado Rockies, who drafted him in Round 4 of the 2010 MLB Draft. He played a bit that summer before returning to the Wolfpack.
Wilson started the 2011 season with the Low-A Asheville Tourists. He struggled mightily and by May rumors of his returning to football began. At the end of June, Wilson had settled on Wisconsin. He finished his baseball season hitting .228/.366/.342 in 61 games. Wilson was a raw baseball player who was adjusting to being an everyday player and using a wood bat. He had to return a large portion of his signing bonus and was placed on the restricted list.
Wilson went on to an 11-2 record, a Big Ten Championship and the Rose Bowl -- all in his only season in Madison, WI. He completed 206-of-284 passes for 2,879 yards with 31 touchdowns and three touchdowns. He could certainly be one of the lesser candidates for the 2011 Heisman Trophy.
Wilson will attempt to make it in the NFL, but the CFL has also been talked about during the summer. The Rockies would certainly welcome him back into the organization if he wanted to pursue baseball again.
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