University of Tennessee Athletics
All-Americans
Roster
Wilson, Al
Linebacker
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballWide Receiver
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballDefensive End
/ FootballPlacekicker
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballWide Receiver
/ FootballQuarterback
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballTackle
/ FootballPunter
/ FootballWide Receiver
/ FootballPlacekicker
/ FootballPunt Returner
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballWide Receiver
/ FootballPlacekicker
/ FootballHalfback
/ FootballKickoff Returner
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballEnd
/ FootballRunning Back
/ FootballGuard
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballEnd
/ FootballGuard
/ FootballGuard
/ FootballDefensive Back
/ FootballTailback
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballPunter
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballOffensive Guard
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballCenter
/ FootballTackle
/ FootballDefensive Tackle
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballTackle
/ FootballGuard
/ FootballLinebacker
/ FootballGuard
/ FootballOffensive Guard
/ FootballGuard
/ FootballGuard
/ FootballTackle
/ FootballHalfback
/ FootballOffensive Guard
/ FootballOffensive Tackle
/ FootballOffensive Tackle
/ FootballOffensive Tackle
/ FootballOffensive Guard
/ FootballTight End
/ FootballWide Receiver
/ FootballWide Receiver
/ FootballEnd
/ FootballDefensive Tackle
/ FootballDefensive Tackle
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Quarterback
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Halfback
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Guard
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Running Back
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Jersey Number 27
Al Wilson
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Year(s) Awarded:
- 1998
- Hometown:
- Jackson, Tenn.
- High School:
- Central-Merry
Bio
National Football Foundation & College Football Hall of Famer Al Wilson just might have been one of the greatest linebackers in Tennessee history, and his leadership was even more special, acting like a quarterback for the defense. His unique leadership was unparalleled on The Hill, and it carried over into a season that was much the same. He was the Vols’ only All-America selection from the 1998 undefeated national championship team. The UT captain ranked third on the team that year with 77 tackles despite missing the three games to injury, the first since he was a freshman. His highlight was a 12-tackle performance in UT's 20-17 overtime win in Knoxville against No. 2-ranked Florida in which he set a school record with three caused fumbles.
Career Totals
- Games Played: 42
- Tackles: 272
- Tackles-For-Loss: 27
- Sacks: 11
- Forced Fumbles: 8
- Fumble Recoveries: 3
- Pass Breakups: 10
- Interceptions: 2
CAREER HONORS
- 2021 College Football Hall of Fame inductee
- 1998 first-team All-America
- 1998 first-team All-SEC
- 1997 first team All-SEC
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
- His NFL career totals included 714 tackles, 21.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and five interceptions in 125 games
- Retired in September of 2008 after an eight-year NFL career spent entirely with Denver
- Was a first-team NFL All-Pro selection in 2005, and he garnered second-team All-Pro status in 2006
- Was selected to five Pro Bowl appearances (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006)
- Was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round (31st overall pick) of the 1999 NFL Draft
1998 - SENIOR
- A 1998 first-team All-America and All-SEC selection
- Served as the heartbeat of the team as well as its team captain
- Notched 77 tackles as a senior, good for third on the team
- Led the Vols in forced fumbles with five, while also recovering two fumbles
- Recorded four sacks, six TFLs and broke up three passes during the season
- Led the defense with 21 big plays throughout the 1998 campaign
- Opened the year with a 13 tackle performance on the road at Syracuse and followed up with a 12 tackle outing in the win over No. 2 Florida
- Against the Gators, he set the school record with three forced fumbles
- Made 11 stops against UAB, nine in the rain vs. Arkansas, nine against Alabama, eight at South Carolina and seven vs. Georgia
1997 - JUNIOR
- Finished the season as the team's third leading tackler, despite missing some playing time with an ankle injury
- Named second-team All-SEC as selected by the league coaches and Associated Press
- Accumulated 83 tackles
- Started at left linebacker and called defensive signals
- Chalked up 16 big plays, third on the team in that respect
- Had three PBUs, five sacks and seven TFLs
- Led the Vols in tackles for five games, including four in a row
- Recorded a season-high 12 tackles versus Ole Miss and Georgia
- Scored nine tackles against UCLA, eight vs. Florida and 11 against Southern Miss
- In the FedEx Orange Bowl with Nebraska, he was credited with eight tackles
1996 - SOPHOMORE
- A starter at left linebacker, he was second on the team in tackles with 87, while coming up with 15 big plays - caused two fumbles, had one fumble recovery, three PBUs, one sack and eight TFLs
- Led the Vols against UNLV with eight tackles
- Against Georgia he had 13 tackles, one pass broken up and one forced fumble
- Nine tackles included a sack against South Carolina
- Recovered a fumble in the Florida Citrus Bowl victory over Northwestern
1995 - FRESHMAN
- The most experienced of the Vol true freshman as he played in all 12 games
- A standout on kickoff, punt and punt return units
- As a reserve linebacker, he recorded seven tackles and an interception against South Carolina
- Registered a sack and a TFL vs. Southern Miss
- Finished the season with 25 total tackles
HIGH SCHOOL
- Graduated from Jackson Central-Merry High School in Jackson, Tennessee, where he was coached by Ricky Collins
- All-America as selected by BlueChip Illustrated
- No. 1 on the Knoxville News Sentinel list of prospects in Tennessee
- West Tennessee Player of the Year
- Played linebacker on defense and had 163 tackles as a senior, causing three fumbles
- Rushed for 1,160 yards and 15 TDs in his senior year
- Made more than 1,000 yards rushing in each of his three years on offense, two at tailback and one at quarterback
- A three-year starter
PERSONAL
- Full name: Aldra Kauwa Wilson
- Born June 21, 1977, in Jackson, Tenn.
FB | Cinematic Recap vs. UAB (9.20.25)
Wednesday, September 24
FB | Braylon Staley Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB | Chris Brazzell II Media Availability (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
FB | Rodney Garner Press Conference (9.23.25)
Tuesday, September 23
