The Saints 2011 third-round draft pick has evolved into a significant contributor both on defense and special teams as he appeared in all 16 games in his second season, posting 18 tackles (12 solo), three sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 13 special teams stops and a blocked punt. Wilson, who possesses the versatility to play several positions, will look to continue his development and compete for more playing time in the Saints new 3-4 defensive alignment in 2013.
NFL CAREER – The Saints 2011 third-round draft pick has evolved into a significant contributor both on defense and special teams as he appeared in all 16 games in his second season, posting 18 tackles (12 solo), three sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, 13 special teams stops and a blocked punt. Wilson, who possesses the versatility to play several positions, will look to continue his development and compete for more playing time in the Saints new 3-4 defensive alignment in 2013.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms, 7/30/11; Selected by New Orleans in the third round (72nd overall) of 2011 NFL Draft.
2012 – Appeared in all 16 games on both defense and special teams and recorded 18 tackles (12 solo), three sacks, two passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery while also adding 13 special teams stops, tied for second on the team, and a blocked punt…Blocked a punt that was recovered by Courtney Roby and returned for a touchdown vs. Washington, Sept. 9…Led team with a season-high three special teams stops at Carolina, Sept. 16…Sacked quarterback Philip Rivers in the fourth quarter, causing a fumble and recovering it to preserve the win vs. San Diego, Oct. 7…Registered a career-high four tackles (one solo) and a sack of quarterback Michael Vick vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 5…Recorded one takedown of quarterback Matt Ryan vs. Atlanta, Nov. 11…Tied career-high with four solo tackles while recording first career pass defense and two special teams stops at Oakland, Nov. 18…Totaled two tackles (one solo) and a pass defense vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 16. 2011 – Appeared in 13 games with one start and recorded eight tackles (five solo) and one sack for a 16-yard loss, adding 11 special teams tackles. Appeared in both postseason contests with one start and recorded four tackles (two solo), 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble…Received first career start at SLB vs. Houston, Sept. 25 and added one tackle and one special teams stop...Inactive for games 4-5 (shoulder injury)….Recorded one solo tackle and career-high four special teams stops at Tennessee, Dec. 11…In regular season finale vs. Carolina, 1/1/12, recorded first sack of his career for a 16-yard loss, added one solo tackle and made two special teams stops…Started in NFC Wild Card Playoff vs. Detroit, 1/7/12, and made one tackle…In NFC Divisional Playoff at San Francisco, 1/14/12, set postseason-highs with three tackles (two solo), a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks of quarterback Alex Smith.
COLLEGE – Rugged linebacker played both in the middle and outside throughout college, playing in 38 games with 21 starts during his career and finished with 223 stops (102 solo), nine sacks, 20 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one interception and eight passes defensed…Started all 13 games in a shift to the middle in 2010 and led team with 112 tackles (47 solo), adding four sacks, 11.5 tackles for losses, an interception, four pass defenses, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as he was All-Big Ten first-team, serving as a team captain…Granted medical redshirt in 2009 after playing in only one game where he recorded nine tackles…Opened seven of 11 games at strongside linebacker in 2008 and ranked third on team with 73 tackles (38 solo), three sacks, 5.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, three passes defensed and one blocked punt…Appeared in all 13 games as a reserve in 2007 as he made 29 tackles (15 solo), two sacks, three tackles for losses and a pass defense as he earned Freshman All-American honorable mention…Sports management major.
PERSONAL – Attended Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) Career Academy…Earned Parade and USA Today All-American and was an All-State selection by the Chicago Tribune and Champaign News-Gazette and Chicago Sun-Times All-Public League and All-Area as a senior in 2006, when he recorded 240 tackles, seven sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery…On offense, registered 42 catches for 1,005 yards and nine touchdowns…As a junior in 2005, earned All-Metro honors from the Chicago Sun-Times, as he compiled 99 tackles, 20 stops for a loss, 18 sacks, seven forced fumbles and an interception…Ran track, specializing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes…Hosted a free youth football camp in his hometown in June, 2012 for Chicago youngsters ages 8-16…Visited children patients in the pediatric unit at Ochsner Medical Center and adults receiving chemotherapy at the facility’s Tom and Gayle Benson Cancer Center over the Christmas holidays…Born Sept. 21, 1988 in Chicago.
