BY JOHN PATRICK
@JPktik

The question was asked on Idaho Sports Talk this week: What will you remember about the Boise State/Colorado State game five years from now?

I will remember Cedrick Wilson playing through pain the entire game. It won’t go down as one of his most productive games (three catches for 73 yards). Wilson grimaced with pain each time he made a catch, hit the turf, or even in a few uncharacteristic times, dropped a pass. He played through it, and in the end, pulled down the onside kick that will be remembered for a long time to come.

When the Boise State seniors are introduced Saturday night, I expect one of the loudest ovations to be for Wilson. For two seasons, he has been the Broncos’ best option in the pass game. As his time at Boise State is nearing the end, I can’t help but play the “what if” game with Wilson’s career. What if he had played four years for Boise State? His name is sprinkled throughout the record book now, despite two seasons after transferring from junior college:

• Seventh in single-season receiving with 1,129 yards (2016)
• Seventh in single-game receiving with 209 yards vs. Virginia (2017)
• Third in yards per catch in a career (18.2)
• Sixth in TDs in a single season with 11 (2016)

With at least three more games to play, Wilson could jump into the top 10 in career receiving touchdowns, receiving yards and eclipse his 2016 totals.
I asked BSU historian Tom Scott if he could remember another junior college transfer wide receiver who compared to Wilson. He came up with one name: Rodney Smith had 117 catches for 1,689 yards and 20 touchdowns in 1997-98. Wilson’s numbers will surpass those.

Wilson has been fun to watch these past two seasons, but I wonder how fans will remember him five or 10 years from now. Will he be looked at as one of the best to play on the blue turf, or like a shooting star, burning bright for a short time and then gone too soon. I say both.

John “JP’’ Patrick produces Idaho Sports Talk with Caves & Prater weekdays from 3-6 p.m. on KTIK 93.1 FM The Ticket. He can be found @JPKTIK (Twitter).