Oregon LB Pac 10 bound

Salem, Ore., two-star inside linebacker Tony Wilson played his way into a scholarship offer as a senior from a Pac 10 team. He already had an offer from Portland State, but it was the offer from Oregon State that he truly coveted.

And on Thursday it was an offer he accepted.

"I verbally committed to Oregon State today," Wilson, who is 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, said. "I was down there taking a tour and I decided to give it a go.

"I was talking to coach Riley in the coaches office, and he had all the coaching staff come in. He asked me point blank. It wasn't like a pressure thing because I had kind of already made up my mind. It just seemed like the right time. He said 'you're not leaving this room unless you commit to us right here and now.' And I had no problems at all telling him no. I wanted to be a Beaver."

Wilson said he had a number of reasons why he wanted to commit.

"I just fell in love with the coaching staff," he said. "It's a small town and community, but you get to play on a big scale. That's what sold it for me. I'm not going to change my mind about it now. My favorite thing about the school is the environment and the coaches ability to have a personal relationship with all of their players.

"I'm really looking forward to playing at Oregon State. I think it's a great fit for me as a defensive player."

Wilson hopes he can help make an impression early on for OSU.

"The Beavers are supposed to be known as Linebacker U, so I expect to get used to the system first before I see some real time," he said. "So I'm under the impression that it might be a year before I'm able to see much playing time. But I'm ready to contribute as soon as possible."