Linebacker | Alabama | Junior
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 240 pounds
College Stats
2018: Started all 15 games; recorded 71 tackles (36 solo), 2 interceptions, 1.0 sack, 5.0 tackles for loss and 5 passes broken up; finalist for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the FBS' top linebacker
Career: Started 17 of 42 games played for the Crimson Tide; recorded 119 tackles (62 solo), six interceptions returned for 39 yards and 1 touchdown, 1.0 sack, 7.5 tackles for loss and 7 passes broken up
Profile
Summary: Wilson played at Carver High School (Alabama, where he was selected to participate in the 2016 Under Armour All-America game and Nike's 2015 "The Opening." According to the Crimson Tide **website**, the linebacker committed to Alabama over Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.
Wilson played in all 15 games as a freshman and contributed heavily on special teams, also getting snaps on offense as a fullback. He started two games in 2017 and led the team with four interceptions (fifth in the SEC), one of which was returned for a touchdown.
Wilson was a full-time starter in 2018 and described as an "instinctive, hard-hitting linebacker in the middle" for Alabama.
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein listed among Wilson's strengths that he's "good with his hands," "able to unlock hips" and "plays through blockers with his eyes." He also pointed out that he brings "special teams talent" to the table at the next level.
"He is today's version of an NFL linebacker with adequate size, plus strength and toughness, speed to pursue and an ability to handle coverage duties on any down," Zierlein said. "Wilson is like a classically trained musician who hits his notes on time, but the question is whether or not he can play as a free-form, improvisational talent when the opportunity arises. Either way, he's a solid, three-down starter in any defensive scheme."
Click **here** to read Wilson's full profile on NFL.com.
Stacking up: NFL Media analyst **Bucky Brooks** ranked Wilson as the third-best linebacker in this year's draft class, as did The Athletic's **Dane Brugler**. Daniel Jeremiah did not include Wilson in his list of top 50 prospects heading into the 2019 NFL Draft. He ranked just two linebackers in the group: LSU's Devin White (No. 6) and Michigan's Devin Bush (No. 9).
Embracing special teams: Wilson made an impact on special teams throughout his career at Alabama and told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that it's a role he embraces.
"Special teams is something I take full pride in because, at the end of the day, a football game can be based off who won the special teams battle," Wilson said. "If you win the special teams battle, that could be the decision on who wins the game [and] who loses. It can be a shootout, 35-35, and it's the fourth quarter and 10 seconds left, and you've got a kick return. You've got to rely on everybody on the kick return to make those blocks in order for us to run this ball back and try to score a touchdown. At the end of the day, special teams have got to be taken [seriously]."
