QB transfer eyeing the Badgers

It's not a done deal, but NC State transfer QB Russell Wilson has visited Wisconsin and is seriously considering a transfer to the Badgers.

The Wisconsin State Journal's Tom Mulhern reported today that Wilson stooped in Madison on Tuesday and had his visit extend to Wednesday afternoon. A source told Mulhern, “It was a home run - a grand slam in baseball terms.” Here's a link to the story.

Timing couldn't be better for UW coach Bret Bielema. The Badgers go into 2011 looking to replace the steady hand of Scott Tolzien, who led the Badgers to a share of the Big Ten title, an 11-2 record and a spot in the Rose Bowl. The material on hand in Madison includes sophomore Jon Budmayr and Curt Phillips.

Budmayr is considered the frontrunner. He's a sophomore with 10 career passing attempts. Phillips is coming off his second ACL repair.

Wilson was basically booted out of North Carolina State because of his baseball deal with the Colorado Rockies. NC State coach Tom O'Brien said the school planned to move ahead without Wilson, who was a fourth-round pick by the Rockies in 2010.

O'Brien didn't want his team held hostage by a QB who said his full attention would be on baseball all summer. A bold move considering Wilson's resume: He threw for 3,563 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2010, led State to a 9-4 record and the No. 25 ranking in the final AP poll. A first-team All-ACC selection in '08 and second-team in '10, Wilson ranks among the best quarterbacks in school history. He's third on the career list in total offense (9,628 yards), third in passing yards (8,545) and second in passing touchdowns (76).

Wilson has graduated from NC State with one year of eligibility remaining. He could enroll at UW as a grad student in whatever program Wisconsin has that NC State doesn't have. (This is what Jake Christensen tried to do before settling in at Eastern Illinois.)

HawkeyeNation's Jon Miller covers the Iowa angle well here. Of course, Iowa doesn't play Wisconsin this season, so there's nothing head-to-head to fret about. Combine an add in Russell and a subtract of OSU's Terrelle Pryor, the Badgers would be the clear frontrunners in the Leaders Division of the NU-Big Ten.

There are financial strings attached to Wilson, who's currently playing minor league baseball with the Asheville (N.C.) Tourists in the Rockies farm system. He reportedly was paid a $250,000 bonus as a fourth-round draft pick last year. He likely would have to pay back a significant portion of that bonus if he leaves early.

The Tourists' regular season ends on Sept. 5. The Badgers open preseason camp on Aug. 4 and kick off the regular season at home against UNLV on Sept. 1.

It looks as though it's down to Wisconsin and Auburn, with the Badgers holding an edge based on community. It's still up in the air, according to Bucky's 5th Quarter.

It's never the offseason, is it?