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Friday, August 26, 2011

Rice Tight End signs with Blue Jays

Willson, a power-hitting, left-handed hitter, will report to Toronto’s minor-league complex in Dunedin, Fla., at the end of the spring semester. Willson can play either first base or the corner outfield spots.

As part of his deal, Willson received a signing bonus that will be spread over three years, which allows him the flexibility to pursue a football career after college, if he chooses.

The baseball contract will not affect Willson’s remaining two years’ football eligibility.

Willson has a baseball background, which includes playing for the Canadian junior national team. He also briefly worked with the Rice baseball team in the fall 2009 before deciding to concentrate on football.

I know these type of signings don’t normally get their own thread, but this particular signing seems very interesting.  He doesn’t play baseball for Rice, only football, and he’s signed a professional contract with the Jays but will stay be allowed to play Rice football.  I had no idea that was allowed by either the NCAA or MLB.

Paul D(uda) Posted: August 26, 2011 at 02:58 PM | 12 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: blue jays, college

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   1. vortex of dissipation Posted: August 26, 2011 at 06:51 PM (#3909764)
and he’s signed a professional contract with the Jays but will stay be allowed to play Rice football.


Jake Locker signed with the Angels in 2009, but still played two years of football after that for the University of Washington.
   2. Russ Posted: August 26, 2011 at 06:59 PM (#3909767)
Deion Sanders? Quincy Carter?

I thought it was not that uncommon to have guys playing football in NCAA while playing minor league ball during the summers.
   3. The Long Arm of Rudy Law Posted: August 26, 2011 at 07:08 PM (#3909773)
If his end is rice tight, he really needs to see a doctor.

There. I made an ass joke.
   4. Sam M. Posted: August 26, 2011 at 07:17 PM (#3909782)
The Mets signed a player this year in a similar situation -- Brad Marquez, their 16th round pick. He played SS in high school in Odessa, TX, but he's seen as a center field prospect. He'll be playing football at Texas Tech.
   5. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: August 26, 2011 at 07:20 PM (#3909783)
Akili Smith played three years of minor league ball with the Pirates (under his birth name, Kabisa Smith) before becoming a high-profile college QB and NFL draft bust.
   6. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 26, 2011 at 07:53 PM (#3909810)
Ricky Williams played for the Expos minor league system.

Current Buckeyes defensive back Devon Torrence played in the Astros system his fresh and soph seasons.

And there's the only way I could hate him even more - John Elway, New York Yankee.
   7. Kyle S at work Posted: August 26, 2011 at 07:55 PM (#3909812)
Dennis Dixon played for the Braves' rookie league team (according to Wikipedia, he even roomed with Freddie Freeman) before returning to Oregon for his senior season and eventually ending up as the Steelers' backup QB.
   8. vortex of dissipation Posted: August 26, 2011 at 08:11 PM (#3909817)
And there's the only way I could hate him even more - John Elway, New York Yankee.


I was the official scorer for another Pac-10 baseball team when Elway was at Stanford. In one game, I ruled a ball that Elway hit an error rather than a base hit. He sent the Stanford student manager over to me to try to talk me into changing it into a hit - the only time an opposing player did anything like that in the five seasons I kept the official scorebook...
   9. Gary Truth Serum Posted: August 26, 2011 at 08:30 PM (#3909828)
In a basketball example, Trajan Langdon played minor league ball for the Padres when he wasn't prostituting himself by playing basketball for Duke. This meant he wasn't counted against Duke's scholarship limit since the Padres were paying his tuition.
   10. GuyMcGuffin Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:03 PM (#3909847)
Mewelde Moore played 3 years of rookie ball for the Padres after being drafted in the 4th round in 2000 while playing RB for Tulane en route to being a 4th round pick in the NFL in 2004.
   11. Paul D(uda) Posted: August 26, 2011 at 09:06 PM (#3909848)
Huh, I guess it's not that uncommon.

I do find it strange that he seems to have been out of baseball at an organized level (except for the Canadian team) for a while.
   12. Walt Davis Posted: August 26, 2011 at 11:08 PM (#3909916)
Nobody's even mentioned Bo Jackson yet. And people always seem to forget Brian Jordan.

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