Kion Wilson
Encyclopedia
Kion Wilson is an American football linebacker who is a currently a member of Carolina Panthers
. He attended the University of South Florida
, as a member of the 2010 graduating class. Shortly after the draft ended, Wilson joined the San Diego Chargers
of the National Football League
as an undrafted free agent.
located in Jacksonville, Florida
where he was rated as a four-star recruit by Scout.com and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com
in Poplarville, MS. There he recorded 117 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 sacks as a freshman. During nine games as a sophomore he recorded 98 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and one sack.
Prior to the Spring 2008 semester Wilson signed with The University of South Florida
. He played in 13 games and started in 11. Wilson ranked 3rd on the team with 66 tackles during his first season as a Bull and also registered 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two pass break-ups. He piled up double-digit tackle numbers against Cincinnati (11), UConn (12) and West Virginia
(11)
As a captain during Wilson’s senior year, he played in all 12 games and led the team with 105 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and also had one sack, one force fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and one pass breakup. Wilson recorded 12 or more tackles in four straight Big East games. With 18 tackles versus Rutgers, the second-most ever in a game in USF history
, Wilson signed with the San Diego Chargers
as a rookie free agent on May 10, 2010. Though he was cut following training camp, he was signed to the team's practice squad, and was eventually promoted to the active roster on October 2 for their Week 4 game. He played in three games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury and being placed on the Injured Reserve list.
On September 3, 2011, the Chargers cut Wilson at the end of training camp. On October 4th, 2011 he was signed by the Carolina Panthers to their practice squad, where he was reunited with his former defensive coordinator
from the Chargers, Ron Rivera
.
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 attended the University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, as a member of the 2010 graduating class. Shortly after the draft ended, Wilson joined the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
as an undrafted free agent.
Early Years
Wilson attended William M. Raines High SchoolWilliam M. Raines High School
William Marion Raines Senior High School is a historically black high school in Jacksonville, Florida. The school is located off Moncrief Road in Jacksonville, Florida's northside. Located at the corner Raines Avenue in northwest Jacksonville, Raines serves approximately 1000 students. The school...
located in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
where he was rated as a four-star recruit by Scout.com and a three-star recruit by Rivals.com
Collegiate Career
Wilson played weak side linebacker at Pearl River Community CollegePearl River Community College
Pearl River Community College is a public community college in Poplarville, Mississippi, USA. It was founded as Pearl River County Agricultural High School in 1909, then became the first junior college in Mississippi in 1921.-History:...
in Poplarville, MS. There he recorded 117 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 sacks as a freshman. During nine games as a sophomore he recorded 98 tackles, 7 tackles for loss and one sack.
Prior to the Spring 2008 semester Wilson signed with The University of South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
. He played in 13 games and started in 11. Wilson ranked 3rd on the team with 66 tackles during his first season as a Bull and also registered 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and two pass break-ups. He piled up double-digit tackle numbers against Cincinnati (11), UConn (12) and West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
(11)
As a captain during Wilson’s senior year, he played in all 12 games and led the team with 105 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and also had one sack, one force fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception and one pass breakup. Wilson recorded 12 or more tackles in four straight Big East games. With 18 tackles versus Rutgers, the second-most ever in a game in USF history
Honors
- 2009 First Team All-Big East selection by the Big East Coaches, ESPN.com, Phil Steele and Rivals.com
- 2009 Big East Defensive Player of the Week versus WVU
- 2009 CollegeFootballPerformance.com co-National Linebacker of the Week versus WVU
- 2009 Defensive Playmaker of the Year by USF coaches
- 2009 Defensive MVP by way of unanimous vote from teammates
- 2008 Rookie of the Year
- 2007 Defensive Player of the Year of the South
Professional Career
After going undrafted in the 2010 NFL Draft2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
, Wilson signed with the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a rookie free agent on May 10, 2010. Though he was cut following training camp, he was signed to the team's practice squad, and was eventually promoted to the active roster on October 2 for their Week 4 game. He played in three games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury and being placed on the Injured Reserve list.
On September 3, 2011, the Chargers cut Wilson at the end of training camp. On October 4th, 2011 he was signed by the Carolina Panthers to their practice squad, where he was reunited with his former defensive coordinator
Defensive coordinator
A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
from the Chargers, Ron Rivera
Ron Rivera
Ronald Eugene Rivera is the head coach of the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Rivera was a linebacker on the 1985 Chicago Bears, who won Super Bowl XX. Rivera was the defensive coordinator for the 2006 Chicago Bears, who won the National Football Conference championship and competed in Super Bowl XLI...
.