On Saturday, those inside Lane Stadium were treated to a remarkable performance by sophomore David Wilson. That performance raised some questions about him redshirting that need answering. The Danville product was expected to redshirt last year but after Evans went down with a knee injury, Wilson was pulled in as the number three running back behind Ryan Williams and Josh Oglesby. This year, Evans returns and so does Williams leaving Wilson on the outside looking in. This is an easy decision, right?
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Wrong. Wilson has shown this summer that he is likely the second best running back on the team. No slight to Evans there. It’s like saying Brandon Jacobs is the third best running back at Auburn behind Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown back in 2003.
Wilson had some growing pains last season but he showed during the Marshall game and the Tennessee game that he has potential. This summer he’s taken that talent to a different level. Wilson is now pushing Evans for reps and at this point is there any way you can redshirt him?
Obviously, if you’re certain that Wilson would stay all five years than yes it might be in his best interest to redshirt. However, running backs have a short life in the NFL. So after one good season, Wilson may dart to the NFL and all the sudden you lost a year of production from him.
If the Hokies want to take a swing at a national title here in 2010, the coaches will likely need Wilson on the field at some point during each game. If a Wilson touchdown run or a kickoff return for a touchdown is the difference between a 12-1 and 13-0 season, then you have to play him.
A decision isn’t likely to come anytime soon especially with Wilson playing so well in the last two public scrimmages. If anything, Hokie fans may not have their answer until the kick return unit trots out onto the field for the first time against Boise State here in a few weeks. If number four is back deep alongside Dyrell Roberts, then I guess we’ll have our answer.
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