The “Wizard” will get a shot at the National Football League after all.

After being shunned by the NFL in its draft two Sundays ago, former NIU Wishbone Wizard, quarterback Stacey Robinson, signed on as a free-agent halfback this weekend with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 6-2, 192-pound Robinson, who set six NCAA major college rushing marks and rewrote 20 in the Huskie Record Book the last two years, worked out at the Eagles’ mini-camp in Veterans Stadium last Friday.

The news of Robinson’s signing delighted former Huskie coach Jerry Pettibone.

“That’s really great,” the first-year Oregon State head coach said. “I’m really excited that Stacey has the opportunity to show the pros his talents.

“He can be a runningback in the pros. He showed that talent as an option quarterback. If Randall Cunningham gets hurt, Stacey can show them who the better quarterback is.”

Hopefully for Robinson, he can play at Veterans Stadium as well he did there his junior year. In 1989, he rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns in a 20-17 win vs. Temple.

In 1990, Robinson led NCAA Division I players in touchdowns (19), scoring (120 points) and quarterback rushing (1,238 yards). He directed the nation’s number one running attack—one that averaged a school-record 344 yards a game.

He gained national headlines by exploding for 308 rushing yards and five TDs in NIU’s 73-18 victory over then number-24 ranked Fresno State last October.

For his efforts, Robinson won National Player of the Week honors from ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Football News and the Chicago Tribune.