TENNESSEE VOLS FOOTBALL: Al Wilson prepared to be great
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Aldra Kauwa “Al” Wilson was already a touted name in the Volunteer State well before he stepped foot in Neyland Stadium.
A multi-sport standout at Jackson Central-Merry High School, Wilson dominated in basketball, track and football, his performance in the latter landing him on several high school All-America lists and the Tennessee All-State Team while garnering MVP status in the state championship game.
Wilson played linebacker under Tennessee coach Philip Fulmer, starting all 12 games his freshman season in 1995. He recorded 25 tackles that year, including 18 solo tackles. Ratcheting up his defensive menace, Wilson tallied 87 tackles, including 61 solo tackles, his sophomore season, with 11 tackles for a loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
In 1997, the Vols won the SEC championship over Auburn 30-29, overcoming a 20-7 second quarter slump; Wilson posted 83 tackles, including 50 solo tackles on the season.
“He became Al Wilson that you know as the leader in the locker room against Auburn in the SEC Championship Game in 1997,” Tennessee teammate and former safety Fred White said.
His senior year, Wilson was named defensive captain of the legendary 13-0 national championship squad. The Vols first defeated Mississippi State, 24-14, in the SEC championship before capturing the national title against Florida State, 23-16.
Wilson earned consensus All-America honors, was named First-Team All-SEC and was a finalist for both the Butkus Award and the Bronko Nagurski Trophy. During the regular season, he set a school record with three forced fumbles against Florida in UT’s 20-17 overtime win. He finished the season with 77 tackles, four tackles for a loss and four forced fumbles, with a total of 272 tackles across his Tennessee career.
“He knew the importance of preparation to be great,” Fulmer said of Wilson, “and he influenced others to follow his lead during the offseason, spring practice, summer workouts and certainly through the fall of that wonderful 1998 season.”
Wilson played in the Senior Bowl and was drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft as the 31st overall pick by the Denver Broncos, where he played eight seasons and was a five-time Pro Bowler.
Wilson was inducted into the University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame (2016), the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame (2017) and the College Football Hall of Fame (2021), UT’s 21st player to earn the honor.
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