And Now for Some Words on David Wilson

In the middle of August camp David Wilson made it clear that he wanted to play in 2010. If he received significant playing time that is. By his own word, that meant 10 touches a game. He trained throughout the offseason like he was the lone starter, posting the team's top 40-yard dash time (4.29s tied with Rock Carmichael) and breaking the team power clean record for running backs (331 lbs). On August, 30th the Frankinator announced David would play.

We're planning to play David. Billy met with him yesterday and David has really been exceptional in our preseason and he brings another element back their at tailback and I think that he can help this football team be successful. He wants to do it. I think you need to get your best football players on the field, and he's one of them. In the preseason practices he's been outstanding in every scrimmage.

via: BeamerBlog

As fans the consensus opinion was not redshirting Wilson was the right move. Throwing everything we had at 2010 was bold, and Wilson would be another weapon in the arsenal used to conquer the opposition with. Before the first snap against Boise State we assumed the offense would be able to sustain drives, therefore increasing the number of plays and making it easier to spread one ball around. Unfortunately, so far this season nothing has gone to plan.

Wilson is clearly frustrated and disapointed that the start of the 2010 season is playing out like 2009, a situation he wanted to avoid. Instead of 10 carries a game, Wilson has 11 toal touches (4 rushes 25 yards, 1 reception 8 yards, 6 kickoff returns 122 yards).

ON IF THERE IS ANY REGRET THAT HE DECIDED TO PLAY THIS YEAR AND NOT REDSHIRT: Yeah, there has. When I was even at the sideline of the Boise game, I was standing there, and I was like, dang. The first quarter went by, second quarter went by, I had two touches on offense, a couple snaps on offense. And then I was like, "Dang, I could have redshirted for this." And I was having that regret then, but like I said, there's no way for me to get out of it now. My year is gone, so all I can do is make the best of it. And I feel everything happens for a reason, and if God has a plan for me, then nobody can stop that.

That quote is from a conversation Sean Bielawski of ESPN Blacksburg had with Wilson yesterday. You're going to want to read the entire thing.

I'm conflicted about how I feel over this. I'm disapointed that he's venting, especially right now. If this team is going to dig itself out of the hole the losses to Boise State and James Madison put them in, they need a solitary positive attitude moving forward and not distractions. Also, does it bother anyone else that during the Boise game he was thinking about his lack of touches, and not what he'd do with them once he got into the game? I also feel bad for David. The kid worked his ass off to earn meaningful playing time that he was all but guaranteed, yet hasn't gotten. Hell, I still maintain my belief from last year that when Williams', Evans' and Wilson's Tech carrers are all said and done he'll be the best of the bunch.

I still believe it was the best decision for the team to have Wilson on the field, even in a limited capacity. Players as talented as him rarely stay four years, let alone five with a redshirt.

In the coming weeks the offense will either improve and David will become more involved, or it will stay stagnant and Ryan Williams will continue to be the feature back. The former will just end up being more fair to Wilson.