A year ago, Warren Wilson wasn't sure what happened to his football career.

The Lawrence native was sitting on the sidelines at Boston College week after week, and couldn't stop thinking about his recruiting trips to Penn State, among other big-time Division 1 schools, and wondering where it all went wrong.

"I wasn't sure what to do," said Wilson, a speedy 6-1, 185-pounder. "It was very frustrating, that's all I can say."

Last fall, instead of being a big-time contributor to a team that was, at one point, challenging for a national title, Wilson found himself not dressing, and staying behind on the Chestnut Hill campus when the Eagles traveled.

"It was a tough situation," Wilson said. "We lost Coach (Tom) O'Brien, and a whole new staff came in. When they started, I missed the first few practices because I was hurt with my hamstring, and as they brought in more and more of their guys, I was falling further and further down the depth chart.

"I just wanted to play, and that wasn't happening. It was tough to get excited about the game that weekend when I knew I wasn't going to get in. The writing was just on the wall, I knew I wasn't getting in."

By chance, Wilson had a conversation in the fall with his former freshman roommate at the Heights, UMass defensive back Reshaude Goodwin, who had transferred after one year and was putting the bug in Wilson's ear about transferring.

Wilson did transfer for the second semester.

"If I didn't know Reshaude, I don't know if I'd be here at UMass," said Wilson, who has lived on the Amherst campus all summer taking extra classes and working out with teammates. "He made the initial contact for me, telling the coaches here that I was thinking of transferring from BC.

"Once I filed those papers and coaches could talk to me, (head coach) Don Brown was one of the first people to call me. The coaches are the ones that really convinced me to come to UMass. I was looking at other schools, UNH, places like that, but the coaches here sold it for me. I wanted to stay local, I wanted to go to a team that was competing for a national title, and I wanted to play, and UMass offered all of that and more."

This spring he and record-setting UMass quarterback Liam Coen quickly meshed. With heavy graduation losses (only one returning wide receiver has more than 10 career catches), he and Coen could be a dynamic duo.

"Being able to take part in spring practice really helped speed up the learning curve," said the former New Hampton (N.H.) Prep star. "Having Liam as my quarterback has helped a lot too.

"We got together quite a bit over the summer with some other receivers and defensive backs to throw the ball around. He really helped me in the spring get to know the playbook. There would be times where I think he could see I was confused about a formation or about a play, and he would explain it and just make it so simple. He's been fantastic to work with."

Wilson had an outstanding spring game with the Minutemen, snagging two touchdown catches, including a beautiful 50-yard reception where he eluded multiple defenders as he sprinted down field. And while it was nice to be in a competitive atmosphere again, Wilson is anxious to be in a game situation.

"I can't wait for game day, there's nothing like it," said the redshirt sophomore, whose last game action was Oct. 6, 2007, when the Eagles hosted Bowling Green, but even in that game he saw the field for only a handful of plays.

"I've been involved with a lot of practices lately. I miss the game-day feel. I miss the preparation, getting yourself pumped up for a game, being a part of the team. It was hard to feel a part of the team at BC because I wasn't in the game. If you know you aren't dressing, it's difficult to really get into it and feel pride and like you're a part of something.

"We have a chance to win a national championship while I'm here. If that doesn't keep you motivated, then nothing will."

For Wilson, UMass, which is No. 5 preseason in Division 1-AA, represents a second chance, something that he wasn't sure he would ever receive.

"This feels like a new beginning," said Wilson, whose brother, Mark Russell, was a basketball standout at Central Catholic. "I've been telling myself that since I made the move, it's a fresh start. Not a lot of people get the chance to have a clean slate and to start over, and I'm grateful for it.

"A year ago I didn't know where I would be, if I would be anywhere. I knew that it wasn't working out at BC, which was tough for me to take because it was a local school and I really enjoyed my time there with the team. But, this is a great fit for me here, and any hesitations are long gone. I got to UMass and it was like a door opening. 'This is what it's supposed to be like,' I remember telling myself."

Wilson, who out of high school had been offered full scholarships to BC, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Northwestern, now has a chance to become the star that the Eagles hoped they had recruited two years ago.

"I have to work my butt of," said Wilson, a graduate of Lawrence's Oliver School. "The goal is to win a national title, that's all I care about. If it means I need to make 400 catches for 8,000 yards, then I'll do my best to get there. I just want to play, and win."