Wilson left State because Tom O'Brien told him he had to drop minor-league baseball as it would interfere with Spring football practice and he wanted a quarterback who was focused on football. Wilson had indeed graduated in 3 years but wanted to finish out his 4th year eligibility with the Wolfpack and was disappointed O'Brien chose to move on with junior Mike Glennon (now with Tampa Bay). Wilson didn't make the decision to leave State, Coach O'Brien did.
But Wilson does recognize and give a nod to his former teammates at both NC State AND Wisconsin with his pregame shout out to "a whole pack of badgers". That being State's Wolfpack and the Wisconsin Badgers.
I'm not a State guy but I like Wilson. He's a good humble kid.
Russell Wilson lets no one know he went to North Carolina State. Guess he still holds a grudge of some sort. When a player is introduced before a game he usually shouts out the college he attended/graduated from. Just odd that Wilson never mentions NC State. When he says “a whole pack of badgers” most people are wondering what in the world he’s talking about.