Russell Wilson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but at NC State, he was told he had no future at quarterback.
In a commencement speech at Wisconsin, Russell Wilson gave some insight on his journey from college to the NFL. In everyone’s life, you are told that you can’t do something by someone, and Wilson was no different.
In an excerpt of his speech from Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com, Wilson had this to say to his fellow Wisconsin grads that firmly throws his former NC State coach Tom O’Brien under the bus.
“The summer before my senior year of college, I’m playing minor-league baseball. I called my football coach at NC State and said, ‘Hey coach, I’d like to come back for my senior year.’ He told me I wasn’t coming back. He said, ‘Listen, son, you’re never going to play in the National Football League. You’re too small. There’s no chance. You’ve got no shot. Give it up.’ Of course, I’m on this side of the phone saying, ‘So you’re telling me I’m not coming back to NC State? I won’t see the field?’ He said, ‘No son, you won’t see the field.’ Now this was everything I had worked for. And now it was completely gone. If I wanted to follow my dream I had to leave NC State. I had no idea if I would get a second chance somewhere else.”
Wilson clearly proved his NC State coach wrong, as he went on to have a great season as the Badgers’ starting quarterback in 2011. In his only season with the Badgers, Wilson totaled 3,175 passing yards, 31 passing touchdowns, and four interceptions. As a dual-threat quarterback, Wilson also totaled 338 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns.
Before being drafted, Wilson was also doubted by many scouts because of his height, but the Seattle Seahawks took a chance on him third round. Wilson has been an instant success in the NFL, as he is already a Super Bowl champion, and he is one of the main reasons why the Seahawks have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL in recent years.
It is safe to say that Wilson has proved his NC State coach wrong, as he has become one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
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