Russell Wilson to Auburn? Malzahn and Co. Back in Business

A one-and-done signal-caller worked out fairly well for Auburn a year ago. Sounds like the Tigers may look to return to the well just in time for 2011.

Several media outlets, including ESPN, CBS Sports and MSNBC, are reporting that former NC State stand-out, Russell Wilson, spent the entire day with the Tigers coaching staff on Tuesday.

Wilson has been granted a release from NC State, and would be eligible to compete immediately—much like we saw with Jeremiah Masoli this time last year. And while as many as a dozen schools have reportedly shown interest, none make more sense than Auburn.

Auburn needs Russell Wilson, and Wilson couldn't find a better landing spot than Auburn, Ala. The ramifications could level the SEC race—and the BCS race.

Don't misinterpret what I'm saying. Auburn still won't even be as good as several teams within their own division on paper. But, they weren't better than a lot of teams on paper in 2010, either. Paper didn't matter.

Cam Newton was a game-changer. He would've been a game-changer at Oklahoma or Mississippi State, too. But it's doubtful that he would have had the same effect on college football, simply because of the learning curve he would've faced elsewhere.

The beauty in Malzahn's system is that it is extremely simple in principle. The level of complexity, ultimately, depends on the mental aptitude and experience of his quarterback. That is why a guy like Cam Newton was able to come in and devour college football in his first season in Auburn, and why a guy like Russell Wilson can do the same.

It may seem ridiculous and may appear as a slight toward Newton to say this, but Wilson is a better fit for a Gus Malzahn offense than Cam was. No disrespect to the Heisman trophy winner, but Malzahn had to seemingly re-invent his spread hurry-up, yet again, for Newton.

Wilson, on the other hand, more closely resembles the passer that truly maximizes the efficiency of Malzahn's offense—see: Rhett Lashlee, Mitch Mustain, Paul Smith and Kiehl Frazier. 

Russell Wilson is not Tate Forcier, or Robert Marve, or Sam Keller. He is a bona fide elite-level talent as a college quarterback.

In 2010, Wilson threw for 3,563 yards, ran for another 435 yards and combined for 37 touchdowns. Eight times he eclipsed 300-plus yards through the air. Twice an All-ACC selection, Wilson was the first-ever freshman to be selected to the All-ACC first team in 2008.

Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley aren't scaring anyone. Malzahn is as good an offensive coordinator as there is, but even he can't possibly hope to win more than eight or nine games with Trotter or Moseley behind center. In all likelihood, freshman Kiehl Frazier would end up taking over by midseason.

But, Russell Wilson to the Auburn Tigers? Well, that changes everything.