MSU-N Game Day: The 22: An Unconvential QB

Tommy Wilson is not a conventional quarterback and his college football career has been anything but ordinary.

Yet, as it winds down this weekend, he wouldn't have it any other way.

"I think I have always done things a little differently," Wilson said. "It has been different going through three different schools and trying to build a foundation. Just to keep making that jump was a transition for me, but it has been eventful and I have enjoyed every bit of it. I have enjoyed the travel of college football. I have played in warm weather, cold weather; I have played in extraordinary heat. It has been a lot of fun. I will tell you that."

Wilson's college career didn't start with Northern, instead, it began in the state of Nebraska, where he began playing at Peru State, an NAIA program. After that season, Wilson, who was from California, transferred to the College of Sequoias, a junior college where he started nine games that season, threw 14 touchdowns and averaged 234 yards passing per game. However, after that, he made the move back to the NAIA and he came to Montana State University-Northern at a time when the Lights were looking for a quarterback.

During his first spring practices and fall camp with Northern, Wilson competed with three other quarterbacks before eventually being named the starter for the season opener as a junior. The Lights nearly pulled off an upset of Rocky Mountain College in his first career start, yet a late kickoff return for a touchdown spoiled the Lights upset bid.

Wilson didn't start every game as a junior but he played in all 11 games for the Lights, as they struggled through a 1-10 season. Ever the competitor, Wilson threw 11 touchdowns and passed for 1,800 yards. He also scored two rushing touchdowns and added six more rushing touchdowns this year is what has become a staple of his game.

"I am not like a lot of quarterbacks," Wilson said. "I like to run the football and when I do, I don't like to slide. I am a competitor, I want to get those yards. I also think that it fires up your team, so that's another reason I won't slide. I want to get my team going by showing how much I want it."

Following the 2017 season, the Lights brought in a new head coach, Andrew Rolin and once again, Wilson was competing with the job against a slew of other quarterbacks and for the third straight season, at two different schools, Wilson emerged as the starter and this time around, he would remain that way.

"He is such a competitor," Rolin said. "He will need to do everything you ask him to do to try and win the football game. He loves to win and he's a great leader too. I am going to miss him after this game. He is truly one of the best competitors I have been around and he does a lot for us obviously in both the run game and the passing game. His ability to compete is fun to watch."

This season, Wilson has run the ball 94 times for 214 yards. Some of those runs have been designed but many have been sacks too, yet Wilson keeps fighting and throughout the season, he has put up some solid numbers. Wilson has 1,969 yards passing and should get over 2,000 yards Saturday against College of Idaho. He also has 14 touchdowns passes and six rushing touchdowns, giving him 20 total touchdowns, along with over 2,200 total yards. He also has two games with three touchdown passes and three games this season with more than 300 total yards.

Undoubtedly, Wilson has achieved a lot over the past two seasons, but one thing he and his teammates haven't done is beat a Frontier Conference opponent. That could all change Saturday, in Wilson's final game at Blue Pony Stadium. The senior has already won one game at Blue Pony this year, throwing for 397 yards and three touchdowns against Mayville State, but he desperately wants another.

A game like that would be perfect on senior day, but the truth is, Wilson doesn't care about stats -- just wins. So whether that means throwing for 400 yards, diving for a first down or making the appropriate check down, Wilson is going to do whatever it takes to win and that more than anything is his defining characteristic.

"I have really enjoyed my time here at Northern," Wilson said. "I am glad that I came and I just want to send these seniors out with a win. I just want to get a win for this school. I want to end it on the right note and I want to add to that foundation because this program is getting close and just want to try and use this game as a springboard for next season so these guys can get some more wins next year."