The luxury of playing college football as a graduate transfer is one that's easily intriguing for Harvard offensive lineman Eric Wilson. Getting an Ivy League education with a year of college football eligibility to play in a different environment can be an easy sell -- particularly for a competitor.

The Ivy League, unfortunately, is one of the conferences that has chosen not to play fall sports this year. Wilson is expected to graduate from Harvard in May of next year. Upon graduation, Wilson said he will look to transfer and play a graduate season.

His list includes a few schools, and SMU is on that list. The Mustangs have exactly what he wants as he looks to the next step -- a rising football program and a respected academic reputation.

"It's definitely important that academics are a factor in my decision-making process," Wilson said. "I chose to go to Harvard and weighed that decision athletically and academically, and I'm going to do the same with this decision that I make."

On July 8, the Ivy League Council of Presidents announced that all fall sports -- football included -- would not be played in 2020 because of COVID-19. Thirteen days later, Wilson entered the transfer portal.

Decisions like the one the Ivy League made have forced the hand of student- athletes who want to continue their athletic careers. And for Wilson, the decision serves as a domino effect for more than just playing football.

Wilson, who will graduate with a psychology major, will spend the upcoming season focused primarily on his studies. He also intends on remaining in football shape with routine strength and conditioning workouts.

From there, the 6-4, 315-pound lineman -- a second-team All-Ivy League selection in 2019 -- will find a place to continue his athletic career. SMU is in the hunt, as are Minnesota, Memphis, Vanderbilt, Boston College, LSU and Florida State for now.

The winner gets a blue-collar, no-nonsense linemen who will bring tons of experience and a dynamic work ethic to a program.

"From watching my film, I think you can see I'm a guy who uses his head but also knows how to finish people and pave the way for a good running back," Wilson said. "That's kind of how I've been all my life -- leading the way, playing hard to the whistle, not talking trash, playing smart and getting things done on and off the field."

Wilson also could be a positive role model off the field regarding his classroom responsibilities. He is Harvard's nominee for the 2020 Campbell Trophy, which is awarded to a student-athlete who best recognizes, as the Campbell Trophy website states, "academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership." All nominees must own a 3.2 grade-point average.

A preseason All-America candidate, Wilson played left guard at Harvard, but he can effectively play anywhere on the line. He spoke about the camaraderie on the Harvard football team -- and the frustration of seeing his career end somewhat prematurely.

"The first thing you do is think about the last time you played for Harvard football and for the Ivy League -- and how much you're going to miss it," he said. "Especially with the fact that the Ivy League doesn't allow postgraduates to play.

"If you're trying to continue to play, the best option is generally to graduate, and then use that last year of eligibility to get a grad degree."

Wilson and SMU have been in contact with each other, and the program's growth and expectations for the future is something that really makes Wilson do a doubletake. It helps that he has not only has family in Texas but also has a roommate with connections to a current SMU player.

"My roommate's brother is an incoming freshman on the team, Ben Sparks," Wilson said, referring to fellow Harvard senior offensive lineman Hunt Sparks. "I was following Ben through his high school year. His brother and I would follow his high school games. "I was already an SMU fan after Ben committed, so it was fun to hear from them, also."

Wilson said he's been in contact with SMU co-offensive coordinator AJ Ricker, and the two have been speaking about Wilson coming to the Hilltop. Wilson said the school is an easy sell, as it's in a great location with tons of opportunity to be successful after college.

The football has been pretty good, too. Wilson's paid attention to SMU's success and knows about the team last year earning its first 10-win season since 1984.

"It's been great talking to him," Wilson said of Ricker. "I know SMU's a great school that's recently produced one of the best football teams in Texas at the college level. They've done well academically and athletically -- for everybody, not just grad transfers. It was pretty exciting just to hear from them."

Wilson said he will continue to weigh all of his options and doesn't have a timeline for making a final decision. Minnesota is a school to watch, as he is from the state, playing his high school ball at Benilde-St. Margaret's right outside of Minneapolis. He was rated a three-star prospect out of high school by Rivals.com.

Whatever the case, Wilson knows that his next move means he gets a second chance at being recruited. It'll be an opportunity for him to let colleges win him over, but it'll also be a situation to where he fully understands the process.

Whether SMU wins the recruiting battle is still to be determined.

"It's a lot different the second go-around. It's a lot more straightforward," he said of the process. "It's like, 'We have a spot for you. Would you take it, yes or no?' That's something I really appreciate, because it's not a question of if I can play at the college level.

"It's already put on tape that I can play college football. Now I just have to make my decision."