Wilson Whitley

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Wilson Whitley
Date of birth April 28, 1955
Place of birth Brenham, Texas
Date of death October 27, 1992
Place of death Marietta, Georgia
Position(s) Defensive Tackle
College Houston
NFL Draft 1977 / Round 1 / Pick 8
Statistics
Team(s)
1977-1982 Cincinnati Bengals

Wilson Whitley (born May 28, 1955, died October 27, 1992) was a consensus All-American defensive tackle at the University of Houston, having played there from 1972-1976 under then defensive coordinator, Don Todd. He led the Cougars to the Southwest Conference championship in football during Houston's first season as a conference member and was named the Lombardi Award winner for 1976, as the nation's top lineman. He was presented the award by Former President Gerald Ford at a ceremony in Houston, Texas.

Whitley was drafted in the first round by the Cincinnati Bengals and started alongside another Lombardi Award winner, Ross Browner, for 6 seasons. He was later named to the Southwest Conference "All Decade Team" for the 70's.

Whitley suffered an untimely death at the age of 37, due to a heart condition. He is a 1998 inductee into UofH's Hall of Honor and is a perennial candidate for the National College Football Hall of Fame.