Bucknell University Athletics
Now a Senior, Wesley Looks to Lead Bison into Title Chase
9/14/2013 9:00:00 PM | Football
By Todd Merriett, Bucknell Athletic Communications
Senior quarterback Brandon Wesley enters his fourth year as the starting quarterback for the Bison this fall. He ranks first in program history in pass completions (461) and pass attempts (806) and is second in passing yards (4,926) and total offense (5,401), but interestingly it is a game that he posted a pedestrian stat line of 4-for-8 for 48 yards that sticks out in his mind when looking back at his first three campaigns.
Wesley's most vivid memory is of Bucknell's 39-13 victory at Lafayette in 2011 that was played in a freak late-October blizzard. The win was the Bison's first in the series since 2001, and their largest margin of victory against the Leopards in 40 years. A steady, accumulating snow blanketed the field throughout the game. The thermometer was frozen in the low 30s. This was something completely out of the ordinary for the Texas native whose high school utilized an indoor practice facility to escape thunderstorms and blazing hot weather.
"I thought there was no way they were going to make us go out there and play that game," remembers Wesley, one of just three Bucknell quarterbacks to record three straight 1,000-yard passing seasons. "I couldn't believe I was out there. I couldn't feel my toes. I couldn't feel my hands. I don't know how I even functioned that game. I hogged the heater the entire time."
Picking one of the worst statistical games of his career as a standout memory shows Wesley has bought into what fourth-year head coach Joe Susan constantly preaches ― it's all about the team. Wesley was excited to get the victory, see Tyler Smith go down in the record books with 212 yards on 42 carries and watch the Bison defense force an impressive seven turnovers.
One of three current seniors to see action in all 33 games since arriving on campus in the summer of 2010, Wesley had never heard of Bucknell when he was first contacted by the Bison coaching staff during his junior year at 3,057-student Plano East High School in football-crazed Texas. He looked up information about the school and learned it was a great academic institution, which certainly appealed to him since he started out as an engineering major.
The Bucknell staff started heavily recruiting Wesley during his senior year. After a visit to the Lewisburg, Pa., campus, he committed to the program.
"It wasn't really a problem for me to come up here, but it is a looong way from home," says Wesley, who is now majoring in geology. "I get jealous of some of the other guys that get to go home when we have a few days off. I usually just have my mom send me some food. My favorite is jambalaya."
Wesley's family makes it to games a couple times a year and the Lehigh Homecoming contest is on the travel calendar this year. Luckily, Wesley is able to connect with relatives on a regular basis during the football season since he has a couple aunts that live in the Washington, D.C., area who make it to as many games as possible.
Wesley has had to make plenty of off-the-field adjustments like dealing with the colder weather and missing mom's home cooking, but he has worked with plenty of football-related changes as well. Chief among them was his adjustment from running a spread offense in high school to the pro-style system Susan and offensive coordinator Bryan Bossard employ. Wesley was used to taking every snap in the shotgun formation, rather than under center, and was initially not comfortable with the new footwork.
"Early on it took me by surprise, especially having to play and learn at the same time as a freshman," mentions the athletic Wesley, who played basketball, baseball, ran track and bowled while growing up. "That was pretty tough. But now it is much easier."
Toward the front end of his Bucknell career Wesley much preferred to tuck the ball and run at the first hint of trouble in the pocket. Over the course of his four years he has learned to utilize his running abilities to make plays happen, rather than to only escape potential danger.
"Coach Susan encourages me to make something happen with my feet when things do break down," explains the 6'2", 195-pound Wesley, who has gained more than 1,200 yards (discounting sacks) on the ground in his career. "I just do whatever it takes. If I have to run, I'll run. If I have to pass, I'll pass. This year I have focused on trying to make more plays downfield instead of running immediately like I used to as a freshman."
Wesley was thrown into the fire immediately as a rookie. Then-senior Burke Batten earned the start in the 2010 opener at Duquesne, but Wesley took over on the third drive and has been in the lineup ever since, starting each of the past 32 games.
Despite learning on the fly, Wesley put together a strong freshman season. He completed 171 of 296 passes for 1,699 yards and six touchdowns and was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Wesley nearly doubled the previous Bucknell record for passing yards by a freshman.
As a sophomore, Wesley threw for another 1,400-plus yards and helped lead the Bison to a 6-5 record. Last fall, behind an offensive line that featured four first-time starters and just one senior, he piled on another 1,781 yards, the 11th-most in a single-season in program history.
Susan was impressed with Wesley's performance during the most recent spring practice and that carried through to preseason camp.
"My experience helps a lot," comments Wesley. "I'm not thinking too much during practice. I am just out there reacting to what the defense does. I just go out there and play now."
While Bucknell was picked to finish sixth in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, internal expectations are high entering the 2013 season. The offensive line this fall is an experienced group with four returning starters, a talented freshman and experience off the bench, making Wesley excited for his senior campaign.
"I am just looking for us to play with confidence and take one game at a time," says Wesley, who spent last week's opening night of college football season doing homework rather than watching one of the many games on TV. "We can't look ahead. We can't look behind. We just have to stay in the moment and execute."
Even though Wesley is taking his final campaign one game at a time, with graduation just around the corner he is at the stage of his life where he does have to look ahead. He does not yet have a job lined up, but he knows he wants to go back to Texas, or at least somewhere warmer, and potentially pursue a career in geology with the oil and gas companies.
Note: This story appeared in a recent edition of the Bucknell Football Gameday Program.
