MADISON, Wis. � Russell Wilson will step back into the spotlight on Thursday night for No. 11 Wisconsin.
The North Carolina State transfer is ready for his final chance to lead a team to a major bowl game after a successful run with the Wolfpack.
"I'm not worried about it. I'm excited about it. It's a great opportunity," the quarterback said. "When you're prepared, you're not nervous. I'm excited about our situation here and it should be a good one."
Wilson will be the focus for the Badgers as they start their season by hosting UNLV at Camp Randall Stadium in a nationally televised game.
It'll be a raucous scene with 80,000 fans who'll be there expecting the first win toward another Rose Bowl run and Big Ten title after sharing it with Ohio State and Michigan State last year.
"It's going to be an amazing, amazing atmosphere, man," Wisconsin safety Aaron Henry said. "Hopefully we can just go in there and take care of business."
Wilson has been a hit with teammates since enrolling in the fall after graduating in three years and playing pro baseball in the Colorado Rockies' organization over the summer.
When N.C. State didn't want him back, he took advantage of an NCAA rule that allowed him to be immediately eligible to play for Wisconsin.
"It's pretty unique, but also I think very well planned out," Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. "I really researched everything about him. How he transitioned into the Rockies organization, the people there in Asheville, just the way they talked about him. He had only been there a short amount of time so there was a quick transition there even with his teammates. And all that stuff just kind of carried forward.
"Now I didn't know how it was going to be in the locker room and whatnot. And really he hasn't been in adversity yet, you know, under fire. I mean, we try to do it during practice, but nothing like it will be at game speed. So that's a test still needs to be conquered."
Wilson's charisma helped him become one of four team captains, and he'll have plenty of help around him to succeed.
"We've watched him a little bit this summer when we found out he was headed there," UNLV Bobby Hauck said. "To have him show up on campus was really good for them and probably not good for their opponents."
The Badgers have one of the biggest offensive lines in the nation, two 900-yard running backs in Montee Ball and James White and veteran receiver Nick Toon, who has 107 catches, 24 behind his father, Al, for fourth on the school's career list.
The Badgers really don't want Wilson to run, but like his ability to scramble and extend plays.
They'll leave the important yards on the ground to Ball and White, who combined for 32 touchdowns rushing last year. The newest running back expected to get a long look is true freshman Melvin Gordon, one of Bielema's biggest commitments in the offseason who impressed the coaches in camp.
Hauck is dealing with a new starting quarterback, too.
The second-year coach tabbed Caleb Herring for the starting role, the Rebels' QB caller over the past eight openers. Herring completed half his passes for 365 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in eight games off the bench last year.
"I'm a little bit more confident in myself," Herring said. "Competing this offseason definitely will help me be more comfortable in the pocket this year."
Still, not many are giving the Rebels much of a chance. They're five-touchdown underdogs against the Badgers and still very young.
"Certainly last year when we played Wisconsin we had 23 guys or something who were playing in their first college football game, that was eye-opening for a lot of our players," said Hauck, who went 2-11 last year after losing 17 games over his seven previous years at FCS Montana.
"Hopefully we don't have a deer in the headlights look, but there might be a guy or two who is blown away by the atmosphere."
The Badgers' fans certainly have fond memories of their recent night game. That's when they beat then-No. 1 Ohio State last year. It launched their Rose Bowl run that ended with a loss to TCU.
If Wisconsin is on the cusp of starting another special season, it'll begin Thursday night with Wilson under center.
"I'm excited, but at the same time, I'm not too high," he said. "I just want to be even keel and ready to play."
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