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Class AAA: Five players to watch

CHRISTIAN WILSON -- MONTOUR RB-LB

Christian Wilson hopes to turn the football field into his own proving ground this season. Wilson, a 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior running back-linebacker, was one of the most heavily recruited players in Western Pennsylvania, with 50 scholarship offers. Last week, he made a verbal commitment to Michigan, choosing the Wolverines over Rutgers. Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Clemson were his other finalists. But Wilson has heard the critics who say he is overrated and wonder why he is recruited so heavily. "A lot of people have said how did Christian get all those offers and he's not good enough to get all of them," Wilson said. "Basically, I just want to prove to people, and the teams we play, that there are reasons why I got all those offers. I want to prove it's not just a fluke and that colleges didn't watch the wrong tape." Wilson hopes to run for more yards than the 920 he gained on 159 carries last year. He wants to make more tackles than the 51 of a year ago. And he wants to win more. In his three years on the varsity, Montour is 5-22. "Stats aren't everything to me," Wilson said. "We have to win." Wilson will certainly get the opportunity to carry the ball often.

"We're not going to be like the pass-happy teams I've coached in the past," said Montour coach Lou Cerro. Last year was the first time in Wilson's career he played linebacker. "He's motivated to do well this year because he still thinks he has something to prove," Cerro said. "He feels he flew under the radar last year, which is understandable. You need to win some games to be recognized."

-- By Mike White