Josh Wilson has the speed, ability and intelligence necessary to make it in the NFL. But just in case, the former Maryland cornerback knows he has luck on his side, too.
That luck comes in the formof an NFL trading card featuring his father, Timothy, a fullback who was the main blocker for Hall of Fame halfback Earl Campbell with the Houston Oilers.
Wilson said he keeps that 1981 card with him, along with a tattoo of it on his heart, as a constant reminder of his father, who died of a heart attack in 1996. His father?s absence was the only thing that kept last Saturday from being a perfect day when the Seattle Seahawks drafted Wilson in the second round with the 55th pick.
“Playing in the NFL is what I always envisioned,” said Wilson, who graduated from DeMatha in Hyattsville. “Even though my dad?s not here right now, I know he?s the proudest person up in heaven looking down on me right now.”
Wilson, at 5-foot-9, 187 pounds, joins a Seahawks team that went 9-7 and won the NFC West title last season and is just two seasons removed from reaching the Super Bowl. A two-year starter with the Terps, Wilson finished his college career with 157 tackles, had two career interceptions, 25 passes defended, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and three blocked kicks.
Wilson said he is excited about joining a playoff contender and is also just glad the whole draft process is now behind him.
“There was a lot of excitement, but a lot of stress and anxiety over the last week,” said Wilson, who is the Terps? highest-drafted cornerback ever. “I?m just ready to go out there are just play football. Seattle is a great organization and has a great foundation already in place. I just want to add to that and hopefully make it better.”
Seattle also gets a versatile player in Wilson, who ranked 11th nationally last season in kickoff returns (27.3 yards per return) and set Maryland?s single-season record for return yards (847). Wilson said he?s willing to help on special teams if that?s what the team wants.
“I?ll fill whatever void they may have on the team,” Wilson said. “If that means playing in the secondary or playing on special teams, I?ll do it to assist wherever I?m needed.”
THE WILSON FILE
» Position: Cornerback
» Age: 22
» Height: 5-foot-9
» Weight: 187 pounds
» Hometown: Upper Marlboro
» School: Maryland
» Did you know? Josh Wilson was the sixth cornerback taken in the NFL draft this year ? Also a standout in the classroom, he won the 2006 James Tatum Award, given to the top student-athlete among football players in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
