SPOTLIGHT UNDER CENTER
Newcomer Wilson ‘enjoying the moment’ Senior transfer adapting to life as a Badger by becoming ‘part of the family’
BY MIKE LUCAS
As he was being briefed on media responsibilities — starting with Media Day and upcoming interviews with the New York Times and Sporting News — he took everything in stride.
Perspective might be one of Russell Wilson’s most endearing qualities.
That bodes well for Wilson and Wisconsin; one of four schools that will be the subject of an ESPN feature (“Depth Chart”) on quarterbacks that is being filmed during training camp.
There will be a lot of scrutiny and “eyes” on Wilson this season.
“That’s OK, I don’t mind the eyes,” he said Tuesday. “I don’t worry about all of that.”
Instead, Wilson is “enjoying the moment” while mak- ing sure that he does everything possible to prepare for the 2011 season through his commitment to practicing and “playing hard every day.”
In striving to be that person — “In being who I need to be and the best quarterback that I can be every single day I step on the field,” he said — there has been no shortage of perspective.
“I’ve been through camp, I’ve been through the grind,” said Wilson, a three-year starter at North Caro- lina State. “I’ve been in the spotlight in terms of prime- time games.”
Since picking Wisconsin over Auburn, he has been eyeing just one thing.
Russell Wilson is splitting reps with teammate Jon Budmayr through the early stages of Fall Camp as the Badgers work to determine their starting QB for the season-opener Sept. 1.
“It’s my new family and I’m excited about the family. I feel like I’ve been completely welcomed. “It’s going to be big-time football and I’m really excited about that. Hopefully we’ll do great things this season but I just have to take it one day at a time, one practice at a time, one snap at a time.” That attitude has won over his UW teammates, who have been raving about his work habits and humility. Russell Wilson, the person, may be less of an unknown than Russell Wilson, the player.
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