Earning a college degree typically takes four years. For some, it takes five. Not for back-up center Brad Thorson.

Thorson arrived on campus for training camp this fall after graduating from the University of Wisconsin in only two years.

“I had quite a few AP credits from high school so that helped me out a lot,” Thorson said.

Regardless, completing a degree in two years while battling the rigorous schedule as a division I athlete is almost impossible unheard of. Thorson did it, and then decided that he wanted to leave Wisconsin and try to play somewhere else.

“In the end, it just wasn’t a good fit for me at Wisconsin,” Thorson said. “There were a lot of things that weren’t working out. Since I was finishing up my undergrad, I had a unique opportunity to go somewhere else.”

Thorson called offensive line coach John Reagan and decided to walk on at Kansas soon after. He arrived at the start of training camp in August and met his teammates for the first time on the first day of practice.

Because Thorson graduated, he petitioned the NCAA to allow him to play right away and not be forced to sit out a year, as student-athletes typically must do when they when they decide to transfer.

“Wisconsin supported the move and I did well there and wanted to continue my education elsewhere,” Thorson said. “The NCAA was supportive of it and I’m just happy that they were OK with me playing this year.”

Thorson, who had an unweighted GPA of 3.67 at Homestead High School in Mequon, Wisconsin, took six advanced placement courses at one time. He redshirted his first year at Wisconson and graduated the following year with a business degree in Risk Management Insurance. He is currently working on a sports administration graduate degree, which is a one-and-a-half to two-year program. Depending on his class load, Thorson could complete a second graduate degree before his three years — including this season — of eligibility run out.

“I’m just really interested in what happens behind the scenes and not just on game day,” Thorson said. “I’d like to be involved with that later in life. We will see what comes out of it.”

Thorson has played sparingly on special teams this year and is currently the back up to senior Ryan Cantrell at center. Thorson said he knows his time will come next year, but with the struggling running game, coach Mark Mangino has hinted that possible personnel changes on the offensive line could be coming. It doesn’t appear, however, that Thorson’s chance at center will come this year.

“I think right now, we’re playing our best five offensive linemen to this point,” Mangino said. “Can that change? Yes it can, but is putting him in the lineup right now the answer? I don’t think so at this point in time; Ryan Cantrell is a veteran guy and he needs to play well, but he’s capable.”

Thorson projects to be the starter at center in 2009 so having to wait a year to see the field doesn’t bother him. In fact, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“I am loving playing football and I am loving going to school,” Thorson said. “I didn’t want a job. It’s just a lot of fun being here.”

— — Edited by Andy Greenhaw