Andrew Luck's uncle to serve as QB's agent

[January 18, 2012]  STANFORD, Calif. (AP) -- Andrew Luck's uncle will serve as the agent for the former Stanford quarterback and two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up.

The Wasserman Media Group announced Tuesday that Luck is the first and only NFL-bound player to sign with the agency. The company hired Luck's uncle, Will Wilson, as executive vice president of football to represent the quarterback.

Luck is expected to be the top pick in April's NFL draft after leading Stanford to consecutive BCS bowl games and shattering almost every major school passing record. The Indianapolis Colts hold the No. 1 pick.

Wilson spent the past four years as an executive for Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing. He also served in executive roles with the Arena Football League, Champ Car World Series and for 13 years with NFL International, including stops as managing director of NFL Mexico and general manager of the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe.

"We are pleased to join forces with Will to maximize Andrew's potential in the sport of football," said Mike Watts, chief operations officer of Wasserman Media Group. "Will's more than 20 years of global sports business experience with some of the most successful leagues will also further our business strategies as we continue to expand internationally."

Luck declined comment through his father, Oliver, the West Virginia athletic director and former NFL quarterback, in a text message to The Associated Press on Tuesday. Wilson also will work with Wasserman's soccer division and its management team on international business development.

"Wasserman Media Group has an industry reputation second to none and a tremendous wealth of experience in athlete representation," Wilson said in a statement. "And as the agency's first, and only NFL player, Andrew will be receiving an outstanding service as he launches his career. I am also excited to help grow the agency's global business offerings."

After a record-setting season at Stanford, Luck is taking a break from football at the moment. He is on schedule to earn his degree in architectural design from Stanford in the spring and he will enter the draft as the most sough-after prospect since Peyton Manning in 1998.

Fittingly, Luck seems headed to Indianapolis.

He won the Maxwell Award as the college football player of the year and the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year. Despite so many pro scouts salivating over his potential, a three-turnover performance in a home loss to Oregon likely cost Luck the Heisman for the second straight season.

He finished as runner-up to Baylor's Robert Griffin III this season and to Auburn's Cam Newton a year earlier. While Griffin took home the bronze statue, Luck should take home the big bucks.

Luck leaves Stanford as the school's leader in touchdown passes (82), completion percentage (.670), passing efficiency (162.8) and total offense (10,411) -- among other marks -- despite playing only three seasons. A year after rolling past Virginia Tech 40-12 in the Orange Bowl, Luck didn't quite have the finish he had hoped. Stanford lost 41-38 in overtime to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Stanford was ranked seventh in the final AP poll.

[Associated Press; By ANTONIO GONZALEZ]

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