<div ="line">
<h2>Wilson to have neck surgery</h2>
This might have a slight impact on the only white LB on the depth chart, Aaron Gress.
</div>
Wilson, a black two-year starter who moved over to middle
linebacker during the offseason, will undergo surgery in the near
future. He has a redshirt year available and will have two years of
eligibility remaining.
"We feel awful for Martez,"
Illinois coach Ron Zook said in a statement. "He worked so hard and had
such a great offseason. I'm really proud of him for that. You never
want to see injuries happen, but we feel that we were able to catch
this in time to ensure a successful surgery and recovery for Martez. I
feel confident that he will return from the injury stronger and with
more determination next year."
Wilson's neck started
bothering him after Illinois' season opener against Missouri, in which
he played and recorded 5.5 tackles. He didn't play last week against
Illinois State because of what the team called a strained neck.
"Of
course, I am upset and frustrated, but you can't control injuries,"
Wilson said in a statement. "The biggest thing for me is that I have a
lot of support around me with my family, the coaches and my teammates
and they will help me get through this. I was really looking forward to
being a leader on this defense, but I can still do that from the
sidelines. I will get healed and make sure I am 100 percent for next
season."
Wilson, one of the top recruits in Illinois'
heralded 2007 class, appeared in all 13 games as an outside linebacker
as a true freshman. He finished third on the team with 73 tackles last
year to go along with three sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced
fumble.
Wilson underwent surgery in December after being
stabbed during a fight outside a Champaign bar. Wilson, from Chicago,
had come to the aid of a former Illinois teammate.
Illinois (1-1) has a bye this week and returns to action next Saturday at Ohio State.
Adam Rittenberg covers Big Ten football for ESPN.com. He can be reached at espnritt@gmail.com.