{{Short description|American gridiron football player (born 1987)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{similar names|Lawrence Wilson (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Lawrence Wilson | image = UConn Lawrence Wilson.JPG | caption = Wilson with the UConn Huskies in 2010 | current_team = | number = | position = Linebacker | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|11|16}} | birth_place = Santa Maria, California, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 229 | high_school = Paul W. Bryant {{nowrap|(Tuscaloosa, Alabama)}} | college = Connecticut | highlights = * Second-team Freshman All-American (2007)<ref name="UConnBio" /> * 2× First-team All-Big East (2009, 2010) | draftyear = 2011 | draftround = 6 | draftpick = 166 | pastteams = * Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2011}})* * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2012}})* * New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2012}})* * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2013}})* * Toronto Argonauts ({{CFL Year|2013}})* * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2014}})* * St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2014}})* | pfr = WilsLa01 }} '''Lawrence Jamel Wilson''' (born November 16, 1987) is an American former football linebacker. In both his junior and senior seasons, he led the Big East in tackles and was selected to the All-Big East First-team. He finished his collegiate career second in tackles all-time at UConn.<ref name="NorBull101229" /> Lawrence was selected in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL draft at pick number 166 by the Carolina Panthers.
He was also a member of the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Toronto Argonauts and St. Louis Rams.
==Early life== Despite playing high school football in Tuscaloosa, Alabama at Paul W. Bryant High School, Wilson received only one scholarship offer; from the University of Connecticut, partially because his father lived in the state.<ref name="NorBull101229" /> He committed to play football for the Huskies on January 16, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lawrence Wilson profile|url=http://connecticut.scout.com/a.z?s=342&p=8&c=1&nid=2341877|publisher=Scout.com|accessdate=February 20, 2011}}</ref>
==College career== After red shirting during his freshman season at Connecticut, Wilson began his playing career as the starting weakside linebacker in 2007, due to an injury to incumbent starter, Ryan Henegan. He would start all 13 games and set a freshman UConn record with 113 tackles.<ref name="UConnBio" /> His sophomore season was highlighted by a game winning interception returned for a touchdown against Louisville. He would earn Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance in that game.<br /> Wilson led the Big East in tackles and was named to the All-Big East First-team during both his junior and senior seasons. He scored his third career touchdown off of a tipped pass against South Florida. It was the only touchdown the Huskies scored in the victory, and helped them clinch their first trip to a BCS bowl game.
==Professional career== After his senior season, Wilson was invited to play in the Senior Bowl where he was fourth on the north team with six tackles. In preparation for the 2011 NFL draft, Wilson was also invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
Wilson was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round (166th overall).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2011/draft.htm |title=2011 NFL Draft Listing |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en |access-date=2019-02-26}}</ref>
On September 5, 2011, he was signed to the Panthers' practice squad.
On November 8, 2011, after being cited for speeding and marijuana possession, the Carolina Panthers released Wilson from the practice squad and team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/7209004/carolina-panthers-release-lawrence-wilson-speeding-marijuana-possession-citation |title=Panthers cut LB Wilson after marijuana citation |website=ESPN|agency=Associated Press |date=November 8, 2011 |access-date=2013-06-10}}</ref>
Lawrence would eventually end up with the Tennessee Titans before being cut May 1, 2012. Two weeks later, he was signed to the New Orleans Saints. By July, the NFL suspended Wilson one game and fined him an additional game check for violating the league's substance abuse policy attributing to the November 2011 incident. On August 31, 2012, the Saints released Wilson during final cuts.
On January 10, 2013, Wilson was signed by the Chicago Bears.<ref>{{cite news|last=Biggs|first=Brad|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2013/01/10/toub-in-demand/|title=Toub in demand|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=January 10, 2013|access-date=January 11, 2013}}</ref> He was waived on August 25.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-waive-14-players-roster-now-stands-at-76/6d1c271a-b4db-42ae-9902-c75b064637bd|title=Bears waive 14 players; roster now stands at 76|publisher=Chicago Bears|date=August 25, 2013|accessdate=August 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331115645/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-waive-14-players-roster-now-stands-at-76/6d1c271a-b4db-42ae-9902-c75b064637bd|archive-date=March 31, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On October 9, 2013, Wilson was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League to a practice roster agreement.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.argonauts.ca/2013/10/09/argos-add-four-to-expanded-practice-roster/ | title=ARGOS ADD FOUR TO EXPANDED PRACTICE ROSTER | publisher=argonauts.ca | date=October 9, 2013 | accessdate=May 24, 2024}}</ref> He was released by the Argonauts on October 12, 2013.
On November 19, 2013, the Chicago Bears signed Wilson again, this time to the practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/11/19/bears-waive-ls-cain-sign-lb-wilson-to-practice-squad/|title=Bears Waive LS Cain, Sign LB Wilson To Practice Squad|work=WBBM-TV|date=November 19, 2013|accessdate=November 20, 2013}}</ref> Wilson was cut by the Bears on June 5, 2014.
On July 22, 2014, Wilson was signed by the St. Louis Rams. He was waived during final cuts on August 30. 2014.
==References== <references>
<ref name="UConnBio">{{cite web|title=Lawrence Wilson Bio|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wilson_lawrence00.html|publisher=UConnHuskies.com|access-date=May 24, 2024|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417141534/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wilson_lawrence00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="NorBull101229">{{cite news|title=UConn linebacker has flourished away from home|url=http://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/x1733656152/UConn-linebacker-has-flourished-away-from-home|date=December 29, 2010|accessdate=February 20, 2011|last=Ketchum|first=Don|publisher=Norwich Bulletin|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130074812/http://www.norwichbulletin.com/sports/x1733656152/UConn-linebacker-has-flourished-away-from-home|archive-date=January 30, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>
</references>
==External links== * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Wilson UConn Huskies bio] * [http://www.chicagobears.com/team/roster/Lawrence-Wilson/ee3efd1f-5e0b-4b4f-9501-1fdbfa8de8c9 Chicago Bears bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313161123/http://www.chicagobears.com/team/roster/lawrence-wilson/ee3efd1f-5e0b-4b4f-9501-1fdbfa8de8c9/ |date=March 13, 2013 }}
{{Panthers2011DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Lawrence}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:American football linebackers Category:Players of American football from Tuscaloosa, Alabama Category:Players of American football from California Category:UConn Huskies football players Category:Carolina Panthers players Category:New Orleans Saints players Category:Chicago Bears players Category:Tennessee Titans players Category:Toronto Argonauts players Category:St. Louis Rams players Category:Canadian football linebackers Category:Players of Canadian football from Alabama Category:Players of Canadian football from California