Rose Bowl 2012: Who Will Be the Better Pro, Russell Wilson or LaMichael James?

With the 2012 Rose Bowl Game set between the Big Ten champion Wisconsin Badgers and the Pac-12 champion Oregon Ducks, the folks in Pasadena are in store for a great game between two explosive offenses when the game kicks off on January 2nd.

While there are plenty of great players on either team, let's focus on Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson and Oregon running back LaMichael James in this article.

With both of these playmakers trying to get a Rose Bowl win this season, who will make the better NFL prospect when their collegiate career ends and they make their way to the NFL?

Speed

Neither James nor Wilson has a problem leaving defenders in the dust while on offense for either of their teams.

While Wilson can escape trouble by scrambling out of the pocket, James has the edge in this category and will have NFL scouts drooling when he blazes down the field after a taking a handoff from an Oregon signal caller.

Playmaking Ability

As a running back, James is limited on what he can do as he can only run, catch the ball out of the backfield and handle kickoff/punt returns while on special teams.

Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson has the edge in this category as he is in control of the offense and can be a much more effective playmaker if his team is in trouble and needs a come from behind win late in a game.

Height & Weight

Here’s where both James and Wilson are fighting an uphill battle as both of these players are a bit short when it comes to height and it might hurt their chances in the NFL.

Wilson is the taller of the two as he measures in at 5’11" while his counterpart, James, is only 5’9".

The height of the two playmakers isn't really that big of a deal in college compared to the pros, as college football has a tendency to want to play small and fast. This is in stark contrast to the bruising and gigantic players that reside in the NFL.

Position

James and Wilson might have equal chances in the NFL as their positions are two of the most sought after roles on a football team. But that doesn’t necessarily mean their careers will pan out when they finally end their careers in Madison and Eugene.

Between the two, it would seem that Wilson could have a better chance at success as running backs are quickly used and shipped out. Running backs don’t last too long in the National Football League.

NFL Prospects for James and Wilson

Whether it be this coming April’s NFL Draft or the 2013 edition if James stays for his senior season, the likelihood of LaMichael James or Russell Wilson being drafted onto an NFL team are pretty slim.

The Wisconsin quarterback has a slight edge because of his great play at the position.