By By KEVIN TRAVIS
Sports Editor
GREENVILLE — With one more game to play in his collegiate career, C.J. Wilson wants to make the most of it.
Wilson, a well-decorated player for the East Carolina Pirates, will play in the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl next Saturday in Mobile, Ala. The game, which will be played at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, will be televised on the NFL Network.
The bowl game features the country’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects on teams representing the North and South.
“I’m very excited,” Wilson said about the game. “All college football players dream about playing in this game.”
Wilson, a former star at Northside High School, is happy he can represent the Pirates in the prestigious bowl game.
“It feels wonderful to get a chance to represent the Pirates,” Wilson said. “It feels good to be able to do that.”
Wilson, who racked up 27 sacks, 45.5 tackles-for-loss, 36 quarterback hurries, four blocked kicks and 192 tackles in his college career, will be playing on the South squad. While the game will be special, he said the week leading up to the game has more importance.
“It’s going to be a busy week,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of NFL meetings. When you’re not practicing, you’re meeting with NFL teams. There are interviews with the teams, like you’re interviewing for a regular job.
“It’s nerve-wracking. You might get pulled to the side by an owner of a team at any point during a practice. It’s going to be very intense.”
Wilson and the rest of the players begin practice on Monday, and will practice each day leading up to Saturday’s 3 p.m. kickoff.
“It’s not the game that matters,” Wilson said. “It’s the practices that matter. Hopefully, I can make some plays in the game, too. I’m just trying to prove myself and play hard.”
Wilson, who was named Conference USA Defensive Most Valuable Player for the second-straight year by Sporting News Magazine, and was a First Team selection to the All-C-USA Team for the second consecutive season, is hoping to leave his mark.
“I’m approaching this like I want to showcase my talent and my personality,” Wilson said. “It’s the nation’s best and getting the chance to go against the nation’s best is pretty big. I want to make plays, make things happen and prove myself.”
The 6-4, 280-pound Wilson, who recorded 57 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss (40 yards), 5.5 sacks (19 yards in loss), 14 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and one fumble recovery during his senior season, will be playing with the likes of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
Other top-notch players expected to participate include Oklahoma offensive lineman Trent Williams, Southern Cal offensive lineman Charles Brown, Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike, Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson, Auburn running back Ben Tate and LSU running back Charles Scott.
“It’s going to be crazy seeing all the guys there,” Wilson said. “I’m going to cherish getting the chance to play with them. Getting on Tebow’s team will be cool. I’m eager to meet all these guys.”
In preparation for the game, Wilson has been working out at Competitive Edge Sports in Duluth, Ga. He’s been training at the complex for two weeks, will return there after the Senior Bowl and remain at the complex through March.
“I’ve been training for the combine,” Wilson said. “It’s six-hour workouts broken into sections. You’re pretty exhausted when you’re done for the day.
“It’s intense. I can tell I’ve already improved.”
Wilson will participate in the NFL Scouting Combine, which will be held Feb. 24 to March 2 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Players are put through a series of drills, tests and interviews with more than 600 NFL personnel including head coaches, general managers and scouts.
“That’s pretty huge to get invited to that,” Wilson said. “It’s used to show how strong you are, how far you can jump and just doing mostly agility drills. It’s another step to the NFL.”
Wilson said he will also likely participate in the Pro Day, which will be held March 25 at ECU.
“That’s just a second chance to retest if I don’t think I did well (at the combine),” Wilson said. “That’s also when you do specific drills.”
It all leads up to the NFL Draft, which takes place April 22-24 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
“I’m nervous and excited (about the draft),” Wilson said. “If God willing, I’ll get drafted. I could get drafted out west, south, north or wherever. I’m nervous about where I’m going, but I’m excited about going anywhere.
“Everybody wants to be a top pick. That’s what you work hard for. My goal is to get drafted in the first round. My family (including parents Amos and Doris Wilson) has been giving me encouraging words. It’s all in God’s hands now.”
Wilson has hired an agent, choosing to work with Bill Johnson and Pat Dye of the Profiles Sports Management team, which is based in Atlanta.
Both have ties to ECU. Dye was a former football coach with the Pirates, and Johnson earned his degree in communications at ECU.
“It took some time to get the right agent,” Wilson said. “There are a lot of good ones out there. My family and I really prayed about it. We had a great feeling with the guys we went with.”
One of the group’s most notable clients is Chicago Bears great Brian Urlacher.
“I had a chance to talk with him and he gave us some tips,” Wilson said. “That was pretty cool.”
Wilson is hoping he’ll be able to join Urlacher in the NFL soon.
“I thank God for my opportunity,” Wilson said. “I’m ready.”