Lawrence Wilson
Encyclopedia
Lawrence Jamel Wilson is an American football
linebacker
for the Carolina Panthers
. He finished his collegiate career second in tackles
all-time for the Huskies. In both his junior and senior seasons, he led the Big East in tackles and was selected to the All-Big East First Team. He finished his collegiate career second in tackles all-time at UConn. Lawrence was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft
at pick number 166 by the Carolina Panthers
.
, Wilson received only one scholarship offer; from the University of Connecticut
, partially because his father lived in the state. He committed to play football for the Huskies
on January 16, 2006.
during his freshman season at Connecticut, Wilson began his playing career as the starting weakside linebacker
in 2007, due to an injury to incumbent starter, Ryan Henegan. He would start all 13 games and set a freshman UConn record with 113 tackles. His sophomore season was highlighted by a game winning interception returned for a touchdown
against Louisville
. He would earn Big East
Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in that game.
Wilson led the Big East in tackles and was named to the All-Big East First Team during both his junior and senior seasons. He scored his third career touchdown off of a tipped pass against South Florida
. It was the only touchdown the Huskies scored in the victory, and helped them clinch their first trip to a BCS
bowl game.
where he was fourth on the north team with six tackles. In preparation for the 2011 NFL Draft
, Wilson was also invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Lawrence Wilson was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 6th Round (166th Overall).
On September 5th, he was signed to the Carolina Panthers' Practice Squad.
On November 2, 2011, Wilson was stopped by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol
on Interstate 85
in Salisbury, North Carolina
after being stopped for speeding. During the stop, the officer cited Wilson on charges of marijuana possession.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
. He finished his collegiate career second in tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
all-time for the Huskies. In both his junior and senior seasons, he led the Big East in tackles and was selected to the All-Big East First Team. He finished his collegiate career second in tackles all-time at UConn. Lawrence was drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
at pick number 166 by the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
.
Early career
Despite playing high school football in Tuscaloosa, ALTuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
, Wilson received only one scholarship offer; from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, partially because his father lived in the state. He committed to play football for the Huskies
Connecticut Huskies football
The Connecticut Huskies football team is a collegiate football team that competes in NCAA Division I-A and the Big East Conference. Connecticut first fielded a team in 1896, and participated in Division I-AA until 1999. The Huskies began their two-year Division I-A transition period in 2000, and...
on January 16, 2006.
College career
After redshirtingRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
during his freshman season at Connecticut, Wilson began his playing career as the starting weakside linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in 2007, due to an injury to incumbent starter, Ryan Henegan. He would start all 13 games and set a freshman UConn record with 113 tackles. His sophomore season was highlighted by a game winning interception returned for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
against Louisville
2008 Louisville Cardinals football team
The 2008 Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in the 2008 college football season. The team, led by Steve Kragthorpe in his second year at the school, plays their home games in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium and are in their fourth year in the Big East...
. He would earn Big East
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in that game.
Wilson led the Big East in tackles and was named to the All-Big East First Team during both his junior and senior seasons. He scored his third career touchdown off of a tipped pass against South Florida
2010 South Florida Bulls football team
The 2010 South Florida Bulls football team represented the University of South Florida in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The USF Bulls played their home games at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. The 2010 college football season was only the 14th season overall for the Bulls, and...
. It was the only touchdown the Huskies scored in the victory, and helped them clinch their first trip to a BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
bowl game.
Professional career
After his senior season, Wilson was invited to play in the Senior BowlSenior Bowl
The Senior Bowl is a post-season college football exhibition game played in Mobile, Alabama which showcases the best NFL Draft prospects of those collegiate players who have completed their eligibility. First played in 1950 in Jacksonville, Florida, the game moved to Mobile's Ladd Peebles Stadium...
where he was fourth on the north team with six tackles. In preparation for the 2011 NFL Draft
2011 NFL Draft
The 2011 NFL Draft was the 76th installment of the annual NFL Draft, where the franchises of the National Football League select newly eligible football players...
, Wilson was also invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Lawrence Wilson was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 6th Round (166th Overall).
On September 5th, he was signed to the Carolina Panthers' Practice Squad.
On November 2, 2011, Wilson was stopped by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol
North Carolina State Highway Patrol
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is the highway patrol agency for North Carolina which has no per-se "state police" agency. The Patrol has jurisdiction anywhere in the state except for federal or military installations. The Highway Patrol was created in 1929 and is a paramilitary...
on Interstate 85
Interstate 85
Interstate 85 is a major interstate highway in the Southeastern United States. Its current southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 65 in Montgomery, Alabama; its northern terminus interchanges with Interstate 95 in Petersburg, Virginia, near Richmond...
in Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
Salisbury is a city in Rowan County in North Carolina, a state of the United States of America. The population was 33,663 in the 2010 Census . It is the county seat of Rowan County...
after being stopped for speeding. During the stop, the officer cited Wilson on charges of marijuana possession.