DRANEVILLE — To play quarterback, one must have leadership.

And for Tramayne Wilson, he did a lot of leading his senior year at Marion County.

Wilson passed for 1,529 yards and 15 touchdowns and rushed for 300 more and six scores in leading the Eagles to one of their best offensive seasons in school history.

He joined the college football fraternity this week when he signed with Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. Wilson hopes to add to the program right away after a 1-9 season in 2007.

“This has been a real big dream of mine,” said Wilson. “It’s been a long journey from me not having a lot to now.”

Eagles coach Calvin Aldridge has had several players go on to play college football during his career. He said Faulkner is getting a “great kid.”

“You love seeing young people like this go on,” he said. “He’s been a joy to coach. He’s a student of the game, and he wants to grow. His biggest difference this season was his maturity and knowledge of the game.”

Even in Aldridge’s run-oriented offense, Wilson passed for 100 yards or more in 8 of 10 games. Wilson’s biggest games came against playoff teams. His season-high of 279 yards came at Rutland, and he passed for 247 against Callaway and 238 against 5-AA champion Macon County.

“He had a great senior year,” said Aldridge. “He was one of our leaders, a captain two-consecutive years, and I’m just proud of him to get an opportunity like this.

“He has a good strong ram, and he’s a strong indvidual. On the next level there’s a lot good defensive linemen. He’s broke a lot of tackles and has a strong upper body and strong legs. He has good mobility and he’ll be able to fit in a lot of different systems.”

Wilson could have a shot to play right away. According to the university’s web site, Wilson will join three other freshmen quarterbacks on the team.

He knows it’s going to take a lot of work to get a starting nod.

“By being quarterback, you don’t have just your position to learn, but everyone else’s,” he said. “If someone teaches me something and I don’t know it right then, I’m going to work hard enough to know it. A lot of people told me college is faster, but I think I can adapt to that.

“To play this game you’ve got to be real smart. I think if I work hard enough you can achieve what you want to achieve.”