Top 30 Most Overlooked High School Recruits to Go Pro Since 2000
By Zach Bigalke
As a three-sport star at the Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia, Russell Wilson helped guide the Cougars to the state championship as a senior in 2006. The dual-threat quarterback threw for over 3000 yards, rushed for 1100, and piled up 52 total touchdowns on the season. Even after such a prolific year, though, few schools came calling once Rivals and Scout put Wilson among the two-star recruits at QB. After receiving football offers from just two schools, Wilson decided to head to Raleigh to play for Tom O’Brien at NC State. After a redshirt season in 2007, Wilson won the starting job by midway through his first year on the field.
With the Wolfpack, Wilson scored 76 passing touchdowns and 17 rushing scores in three seasons. He decided to report to spring training with the MLB’s Colorado Rockies in 2011, and soon found himself released by O’Brien from his scholarship. Wilson took the opportunity to transfer to Wisconsin, where he was able to play immediately under the graduate transfer rule. With the Badgers, Wilson completed 72 percent of his passes for 3100 yards, 33 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. The new QB led the Badgers to a Big Ten title and an 11-win season in his only year in Madison. The success led to a third-round selection by Seattle and a Super Bowl in his sophomore season with the Seahawks.