Bravo for Willson and I hope he's everything the expect him to be. If he is, that will make this offense dynamic in the passing game. Imagine adding another tall receiver, one that weighst 250#, for Russell to spot running free past those "tiny" DBs downfield.
I have big hopes for Willson but they are tempered by his injury history. He had an ankle injury, presumably a high ankle sprain, in 2012 that limited him to 9 catches for a meager 126 yards and 2 TDs. From what I could find, he had ankle problems in 2011 that forced him to miss time and there were some injury issues in 2010 but information is hard to come by.
It's not like he had a lot of opportunity to catch the ball when he was on the field. The Rice football team seemed to focus on the run and in 2012 averaged 201.8 yards per game with a 4.2 ypa average which netted them 26 rushing touchdowns. But their passing game wasn't bad either with their QB, Taylor McHargue having ~60% completion percentage and a 12 to 5 TD to INT ratio. For the year, McHargue had 194 completions.
Even so, there were 7 other players on the Rice Owls with double digit numbers in receptions, but really on 4 that were significant:
Jordan Taylor 57 catches 826 yards 3 TDs
Sam McGuffie 54 catches 603 yards 5 TDs
Vance McDonald 36 catches 458 yards 2 TDs
Donte Moore 26 catches 326 yards 4 TDs
In 2012 Willson was a team captain and finished his career at Rice with 78 catches for 986 yards (12.6 yards per) and 9 TDs.
Apparently his father and both brothers have played sports and besides football, Luke spent time in the Blue Jays 2011 "extended" spring training camp.
I hope he can get in the training he needs to avoid injuries or his career will be over before it gets started.
I especially enjoyed this quote:
"I had got a phone call at pick No. 157 and when I answered the phone I saw a Seattle area code. I answered it and it was (GM John Schneider) and I actually gave the thumbs up and my family and friends erupted. To be honest, I actually didn't even watch my selection on TV because I already knew and, besides, I was shaking I was so excited."
sports.ca.msn.com/nfl/news/seahawks-select-canadian-luke-willson-in-5th-round-of-nfl-draft