Wilson's time with Pack could be short

GREENSBORO - N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien is prepared for the possibility that quarterback Russell Wilson will play just one more season for the Wolfpack football team.

Wilson, a first-team All-ACC selection as a redshirt freshman last season, is on an accelerated academic schedule and on track for graduation in the spring of 2010. He also is a baseball prospect who’s eligible for the 2010 draft.

O’Brien said family health issues – Wilson’s father suffered a stroke about a year ago – could factor into his decision.

“If baseball is the way he has to go to help his family or it’s best for him, then certainly we’ll support him in that,” O’Brien said. “We’d love to have him, but as I told you, he came in with a plan. He’s going to graduate in three years. He’s got the baseball side and the football side, and he likes whatever he’s doing that minute.”

With Wilson’s future uncertain beyond this season, O’Brien plans to play highly touted redshirt freshman backup Mike Glennon for a series in the first half in each game.

Other notes from O’Brien’s news conference:

- Tight end Matt Kushner is at full strength after recovering from a knee injury last season. O’Brien said safety Javon Walker, who’s also coming back from a knee injury, might not be ready for the start of preseason camp.

But Walker is closer to being ready than wide receiver Donald Bowens, who’s out until at least October while recovering from knee surgery.

- Linebacker Nate Irving’s collapsed lung came as the result of a puncture by a broken rib, O’Brien said.

O’Brien supplied more detail on the injuries Irving suffered in a one-car wreck in June. Originally, N.C. State announced that Irving had a broken leg and a collapsed lung. O’Brien said the leg injury was a compound fracture, and Irving also separated a shoulder.

Irving is out indefinitely, and O’Brien expects to know more about his status after a mid-August doctor appointment. If Irving is cleared at any point this season, O’Brien plans to play him because he is not eligible for a redshirt.

- N.C. State is playing two Football Championship Subdivision opponents (Murray State and Gardner-Webb) because of moves to accommodate a three-way scheduling plan calling for East Carolina to play the Wolfpack or North Carolina – but not both – each season, according to O’Brien.

East Carolina visits North Carolina on Sept. 19. O’Brien said having two FCS opponents will be a plus financially because it gives N.C. State eight home games in difficult economic times.

Ken Tysiac