The facts:

Redshirt quarterback Russell Wilson recently announced he is heading to spring training with the Colorado Rockies and will put all of his time and effort into his baseball career. However, he has a year of eligibility remaining for football and has not confirmed or denied whether or not he is coming back to play at State next season.

Our opinion:

Wilson needs to give the Pack a firm decision on whether or not he is planning on returning next season to play football. By not making a decision, Wilson is hurting the football team. The team needs to either focus on moving away from the Wilson era and preparing for Mike Glennon or needs to be ready for him to return in the fall.

There is no doubting redshirt junior quarterback Russell Wilson will go down as one of the best quarterbacks in N.C. State football history. In just three years in Raleigh, Wilson has been named the ACC Player of the Year, led the Pack to a 20-18 record and two bowl appearances, one of which the team won, and has accounted for 98 career touchdowns, the second most in N.C. State history.

Wilson also played on the Pack baseball team for three years. Recently Wilson announced that he will attend spring training with the Colorado Rockies and devote himself full-time to baseball, leaving room for doubt as to if he will return to his football career and play in his final season with the Pack. He needs to make a final decision about his future plans. He is only hurting the football team by dragging it out in a Brett Farve-esque way.

By not making a firm decision, the football team cannot fully move away from the Wilson era to focus on a new quarterback and new offense that will fit someone with a different skill set than Wilson’s. The quarterback position is the most important on the field and those players are looked at as the leaders and captains of not only the offense but by the whole team as well. But the coaches and players cannot endorse Glennon as their starting quarterback, while there is a chance Wilson returns in the fall.

Redshirt sophomore Mike Glennon is also put in a terrible position. The backup quarterback was a top rated quarterback in his recruiting class and has waited his turn to take over as State’s quarterback. If Wilson comes back for another season, Glennon will be stuck on the bench for a forth straight season and would most likely elect to transfer to another school rather then sit on the sidelines watching for another year.

If Wilson wants to continue his football career and attempt to win an ACC title, we will welcome him back next season. His abilities with the ball in his hands are rare and with him at the helm, State has as good a chance as anyone to win the Atlantic Division title.

No one can fault Wilson if he decides to move on and focus solely on baseball. He already has a guaranteed contract with the Rockies, while the NFL is no guarantee. His prospects are looking good and we should accept his decision, whatever it is. However, Wilson needs to make a decision quickly so State can move forward for next year’s football season.