Relax N.C. State fans, Russell Wilson’s job as starting quarterback is safe this season. Mike Glennon, take a seat.

Thursday at 7 p.m., ESPN-watchers will witness the start of Wilson ’s stellar sophomore season and N.C. State ’s journey to a BCS bowl as the Wolfpack take on South Carolina at Carter-Finley Stadium.

By the end of October, you can even expect Heisman whispers for the two-sport star.

Wilson should be carrying his unbeaten N.C. State football team into a key matchup with Florida State on Halloween and have the Wolfpack vying for a slot in the Top 10.

N.C. State will be proud owners of a 7-0 record traveling down Interstate 95 to tussle with Bobby Bowden’s bunch in Tallahassee . The Wolfpack’s resume will include a season-opening win against South Carolina , a home decision over Pittsburgh and a pair of Atlantic Coast Conference road victories at Wake Forest and Boston College .

Far-fetched? Maybe. However, it’s not far-fetched when you have the most talented field general in the ACC who’s coming off one of the best freshman seasons for a quarterback in league history.

Wilson, who threw 249 consecutive passes without an interception over his final nine games a year ago, became the first freshman in league history to earn first-team All-ACC honors as a quarterback. His 388 yards rushing were the most by a Wolfpack quarterback since 1981.

The Richmond , Va. native catapulted himself in the conference’s list of elite signal callers after registering 2,500 yards of total offense and 17 touchdowns last season.

Like other super-human individuals not named Tim Tebow, Wilson has a foe standing in his way.

Like Superman battling Kryptonite, Wilson ’s biggest threat to a Heisman-like season is the injury bug.

The bug first met Wilson in the season-opener a year ago in Columbia , S.C.. A hit from a pair of Gamecock linebackers sent Wilson sprawling to the turf, knocked out with a concussion. The pest had its second date with the quarterback against East Carolina – this time attacking his throwing shoulder.

Despite the setbacks, Wilson is ready to dispel the injuries and be the leader of the Wolfpack.

“It's about this year and starting all over and progressing from the experience I had last year to the growth I had throughout the season and to continue to keep getting better every day,” Wilson said earlier this week.

ACC Player of the Year worthy? Absolutely. Heisman darkhorse? Definitely. The best player on the field Thursday night at Carter-Finley Stadium? Without a doubt.

Brad Crawford is a staff writer at The Robesonian and can be reached at (910) 272-6119 or by e-mail at bcrawford@heartlandpublications.com.