Reinard Wilson

James Reinard Wilson (born December 17, 1973) is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He played college football at Florida State University, and was recognized as an All-American. He was picked by the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL.

Early years

Wilson was born in Gainesville, Florida.^[1] He attended Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida,^[2] where he was a standout high school football player for the Columbia Tigers.

College career

Wilson received an athletic scholarship to attend Florida State University, where he played for coach Bobby Bowden's Florida State Seminoles football team from 1993 to 1996. As a senior in 1996, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American after recording thirteen quarterback sacks in his final college season.

Professional career

The Cincinnati Bengals selected Wilson in the first round (14th pick overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft,^[3] and he played for the Bengals from 1997 to 2002.^[1] In six NFL seasons, he appeared in 93 regular season games, started 23 of them, and compiled 173 tackles and 24 quarterback sacks.^[4]

Wilson was also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003, but did not appear in a regular season game for the Buccaneers.^[1]

References