It is said the chances of a high school football player becoming a professional athlete is 0.02 percent.

According to the NFL Players Association, of the estimated 100,000 high school seniors who play football every year, just 215 will ever make an NFL roster.

Ask Kris Wilson, the former McCaskey standout, if he ever thought he'd be where he is today, his fifth year in the NFL, he will not hesitate with his answer.

"Yeah, I did," Wilson said. "I knew it was a possibility. Was it always my main focus? No. Academics came first and whatever I had going on in the day was important. The thing about it is when you're going out there to play or practice, you do it with a passion and give it everything inside of you.

"It relieves the pressure of whether you're going to make it or how far you will go. That is the approach I'm taking to give me the tools to compete with guys on every level and I'm still here."

He forgot to mention the word versatility. At 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, he's not the biggest player out there, but in addition to being able to line up as a tight end, he can be an H-back, play receiver or be a fullback.

Wilson signed a free-agent contract with the Eagles in the off-season, and was looking forward to playing close to home. But during training camp, he was beat out by Matt Schobel for Philadelphia's No. 3 tight end spot and was one of the last cuts.

He wasn't out of a job long. A week later, he was signed by the San Diego Chargers.

"I was excited to be able to go out there and be around the amount of talent they have," Wilson said. "Every team is talented, but to be involved with an offense as explosive as this one is a special chance for me."

Who wouldn't want to be in the situation he referred to? A chance to play with LaDainian Tomlinson, Phillip Rivers, Chris Chambers and Antonio Gates on the third best offensive team in the AFC.

Following 14-2 and 11-5 seasons, the Bolts were some experts' picks to return to the Super Bowl, a place they had not been to since 1994.

Instead, the team sits at 6-8, but, fortunately for Wilson and the rest of his Charger teammates, it plays in the horrendous AFC West. With two wins and some help from Buffalo this weekend in Denver, they still have a shot at the postseason.

The Chargers play Tampa Bay Sunday night.

"It's been a difficult year, but we're hoping to get back on track the last few weeks and give ourselves a chance at getting to the playoffs," Wilson said. "I know it's kind of cliché but that is what we have to do."

Although he has always maintained a positive demeanor, back to his days at Pitt, the 2008 season has been one of difficulty for the 27-year-old. After being on the inactive list for most of the year, Wilson finally got back into the fold when the 'Bolts faced his former teammates last week in Kansas City.

"I came in late, so obviously I was behind and had some catching up to do, but I'm working hard and trying to learn and get in the mix." Wilson said. "It's difficult, but it's not an adjustment I can't make, it's about learning the system now and giving myself a fighting chance."

Drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2004 draft, in 50 career games, Wilson has caught 42 passes for 345 yards and four touchdowns.

The tight end position is not a glorious one, and usually goes unnoticed. In most cases, it is an added lineman.

But Wilson has been afforded the opportunity to play with two of the best ever. In Kansas City, he played with future Hall of Famer tight end Tony Gonzalez. Now in San Diego, he backs up perennial All-Pro Gates. Asked if this has helped him at all, you'd be surprised at his answer.

"I think my first couple of years in the league I learned some things from (Gonzalez) professionally," Wilson said. "But now, I don't know anything in particular that I have learned from Antonio. Here, we all push each other, and take some things from each other's game.

"We're all teammates and co-workers. We watch and critique each other and try to keep each other sharp. My goal and our team's are to win and get to the playoffs."