University of Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema admitted he was among the skeptics at one time.
But all it took for him to become convinced senior quarterback Russell Wilson was the real deal was meeting him and spending time with him during his visit to Madison in June.
“I kept hearing these things, but I didn’t know him,” Bielema said of his initial reaction when he learned Wilson was interested in transferring from North Carolina State. “We couldn’t go see him. Until I got a chance to pick him up at the airport and ride with him for 20 minutes and spend a day and evening with him, kind of a half-day the next day and you realize it’s pretty true.
“You also, still (wonder), ‘Well, let’s see when he gets here.’ He’s just so true. There’s not a fake thing in his body.”
Seeing was believing for UW fans, too, who may have thought the glowing stories about Wilson out of preseason camp were too good to be true.
It’s unlikely any doubters remain after Wilson’s performance in the Badgers’ 51-17 victory over UNLV on Thursday night.
“I’ve known what Russell has been capable of doing since he got here,” senior wide receiver Nick Toon said. “He definitely lived up to those expectations.”
Wilson accounted for 317 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 255 yards and two scores, while running twice for 62 yards and a TD.
He was explosive and efficient, with averages of 25.5 yards per completion and 33.5 yards per carry, along with a passer efficiency rating of 292.5.
It could have been better, too. Wilson missed two open receivers on his second series, overthrowing tight end Jake Byrne, over the middle, and tight end Jacob Pedersen, in the end zone.
The only other incompletion was a drop by tailback Montee Ball on a slightly low throw.
Not that Wilson was sweating what could have been a flawless night. He said adrenaline was not a factor in the overthrows and noted he got Pedersen his touchdown with an 8-yard pass in the third quarter.
“Just little things, we’ve got to keep getting better,” Wilson said. “I was calm out there, I felt good.”
