Ridge Wilson has a lot of studying ahead of him, although the rookie camp attendee won’t just be trying to master the playbook.

That’s because the soon-to-be West Alabama alum is currently wrapping up his Business Management degree, which means simultaneously juggling online classes with two-a-day practices at McMahon Stadium.

“It’s a headache,” said Wilson, who’s putting a new spin on the term ‘student-athlete.’ “My teacher gave me a little extension so I can finish my last class. My other class, I got a ‘B’ in it, and in this one I have an 83 right now. I’ve got one more test to take and I’ll try to do that in the next two or three days and hopefully I end with a good grade.”

But while the six-foot-four, 256-lb. defender is taking in as much as he possibly can both on and off the field, the finish line is definitely in sight.

“I think I have like two more classes left,” he noted. “West Alabama is going to pay for them so I’m going to do them as soon as possible.”

After spending three seasons at the University of Kentucky, the rush end transferred to West Alabama to join the Tigers where he played one season alongside veteran Stamps defensive lineman Micah Johnson.

After his college playing days were over, Wilson signed with the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 as an undrafted free agent. Waived by the club in May of the following year, the Louisville, Ky., native then joined the Toronto Argonauts but failed to crack their opening-day roster.

“I have a little bit of experience being in the mini-camp I had with them so I’m kind of used to the one yard off the ball,” remarked Wilson on his familiarity with the CFL game after his brief stint with the Double Blue. “But I ain’t gonna lie – it kind of changes up my rushes and my moves that I try to do. In the States, you usually make a move off your second step, but up here it’s gotta be on your third or fourth (step). So I’m still trying to get used to that and still go 110 percent.”

A first-team all-conference selection and the Gulf South Conference’s defensive player of the year following his senior campaign, the 25-year-old is feeling confident about his ability to return to top form. Calgary’s No. 92 is striving to become the second member of his family to develop into a full-time professional athlete as his uncle Rick was drafted 25th overall by the Atlanta Hawks and played two seasons for the NBA franchise in the late-1970s.

“Camp has been good,” expressed Wilson, who signed with the Stamps on May 6. “I’m just trying to get my legs back under me. I haven’t been on a field for training camp since 2014, so I’m just trying to get back as close as I can to that.”