University of Tennessee Athletics
Florida Game Legend: Al Wilson
September 19, 2008 | Football
Sept. 19, 2008
For every home game this season, UTsports.com will post a short bio of the Tennessee legend that will be honored before that Saturday's game. All of the legends for the 2008 season will be from the 1998 BCS National Championship team as Tennessee celebrates the 10th anniversary of the magical season.
His numbers speak for themselves, but it was his leadership that most Tennessee fans remember.
The heart and soul of the 1998 team, senior Al Wilson was a team captain and defensive stalwart at linebacker for the Vols. During the run to the national title, Wilson posted 77 tackles, four sacks and an interception despite missing three games due to injury.
His best game happened to come against the Florida Gators. He posted 12 tackles and forced a school-record three fumbles in the Vols 20-17 overtime win.
His collegiate career totals are 272 total tackles, 11 sacks, 27 tackles for loss and two interceptions. He was named All-SEC in 1997 and All-SEC and All-America in 1998. In his three seasons as a starter, the Vols posted a 34-4 overall record and captured two SEC titles. He is second on Tennessee's career tackles for loss list.
Wilson went on to play eight seasons in the NFL with the Denver Broncos after the organization drafted him with their first pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. He proved to be as great a player at the pro level as he was in college.
He started 119 of 125 games during his seven seasons in Denver and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times. He was voted All-Pro in 2005. He notched 560 career tackles and 21.5 sacks in the NFL before a back injury all but derailed his career.
