When Wilson joined the Alabama program, few thought he would one day close out his career as one of the most prolific passers to ever wear a Crimson Tide uniform. After seeing minimal action as a true freshman, he went on to start the next three seasons, rewriting numerous school records. The Alabama native closed out his collegiate career with a stellar performance in the Senior Bowl, earning Offensive Player of the Game honors. Wilson would also leave the University of Alabama football program as the all-time leader in total offense yards (8,099), total offensive average (179.98 ypg), yards passing (7,924), passing yardage average (176.09 ypg), pass attempts (1,175), pass completions (665) and touchdown passes (47). His pass completion percentage of 56.6 percent placed him fifth in school annals, but his 30 interceptions tied him for third in Tide annals. Wilson was also a three-year starter at Alabama powerhouse Hoover High School, where he led the Buccaneers to state titles in 2002 and 2003. He was named the 2003 Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and was a Parade High School All-American honoree. He also garnered Alabama Sports Writers Association and The Montgomery News Player of the Year honors in 2003. The All-State and Super Six All-State choice was also a member of The Birmingham News Super Senior list. In his final season, he completed 314 of 467 passes (67.24 percent) for 3,821 yards and 40 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. He added All-State honorable mention as a junior, passing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He would close out his career completing 615 of 978 attempts (62.88 percent) for 8,170 yards and 78 touchdowns. Wilson was also a standout baseball player at Hoover. Wilson signed with Alabama in 2004, where his mother once served as a cheerleader, but delayed his enrollment until the 2005 spring semester. He did get limited work with the Tide during Music City Bowl preparations. In 2005, he competed with Brodie Croyle and Marc Guillon for playing time. That season, he appeared briefly in five games, hitting on 7 of 11 passes (63.64 percent) for 98 yards and two touchdowns, scoring one more time on the ground. With Croyle having been drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, Wilson wrested the starting quarterback position in 2006. He set seven school single-season records, including most plays (461), total offense (2,790), attempts (379), completions (216), passing yards (2,707) and touchdowns (17) on the year. He completed 216 of 379 passes for 2,707 yards to become the seventh UA quarterback to pass for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He also set a school record by throwing for more than 200 yards in each of the first seven games of the season. In 2007, Wilson completed 255 of 462 passes (55.19 percent) for 2,846 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He averaged 218.9 passing yards and 226.9 yards of total offense per game, fourth-best in the Southeastern Conference in both categories. He also broke his own single-season school records in total plays, pass attempts, completions, passing yards and touchdown passes. The junior quarterback had a streak of 132 consecutive pass attempts without an interception during the 2007 season, the fourth-best streak in school history. His 2,846 yards of total offense ranks second on the UA single-season record charts and made him one of only three Alabama quarterbacks with two or more 2,000-yard seasons (Croyle and Walter Lewis). Wilson was named a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist and Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist in 2008. The team captain completed 187 of 323 attempts (57.89 percent) for 2,273 yards, becoming the first Tide quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 yards three times in a career. He averaged 161.93 yards per game in total offense, as he threw for 10 touchdowns and was intercepted eight times. He also produced five more scores on 72 carries in 14 games.
positives
Intelligent, durable leader by example who started for three years in the tough SEC. Led late game-winning drives. Operates in shotgun and from under center. Adequate quickness on his release. Could succeed in a West Coast system, as he throws with accuracy and zip on short and intermediate routes and fits the ball into tight windows. Throws a very catchable ball, typically with a tight spiral. Able to get first downs with his feet if the opening is there. Shows nice touch on shorter routes and throws over the top in the red zone. Bounces back from taking the big hit. Accurate throwing shorter passes on the run, especially to his right.
compares to
BRUCE GRADKOWSKI, ex-Cleveland -- Like Gradkowski, Wilson has a quick release and a good short-area passing game, but lacks the arm strength to be effective outside the intermediate area. He is just an adequate athlete who struggles throwing on the move and is really not a threat to run with the ball, despite 11 touchdowns on the ground. Like Gradkowski and Dallas' Brooks Bollinger, he looks like he will be a frequent multi-camp visitor whose hope is to one day wrest a No. 3 spot on a team's depth chart.
negatives
Lacks prototypical size for the position. Is not an elite athlete. Lacks the arm strength to throw the deep out across the field. May not have the agility to threaten defenses with his feet or the strength or athleticism to step up in the pocket or avoid the rush at the next level. Inconsistent throwing to hot reads, feeling back-side pressure and keeping his eyes downfield when facing a heavy rush. Will get happy feet and throw inaccurately (or toss up a jump ball) off his back foot when under duress. Tends to birddog his primary read. A lot of his production came off play-action passes.
No major injuries reported.
Campus: 4.92 in the 40-yard dash
1.72 10-yard dash
2.84 20-yard dash
4.4 20-yard shuttle
7.28 three-cone drill
27-inch vertical jump
8'10" broad jump
300-pound bench press
405-pound squat
305-pound power clean
31-inch arm length
9 3/8-inch hands. Combine: 4.75 in the 40-yard dash
1.58 10-yard dash
2.76 20-yard dash
4.59 20-yard shuttle
7.53 three-cone drill
29 1/2-inch vertical jump
8'9" broad jump
31-inch arm length
9 1/2-inch hands.
Attended Hoover (Ala.) High School, where the three-year starter led the Buccaneers to state titles in 2002 and 2003
Named the 2003 Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year and was a Parade High School All-American honoree
Garnered Alabama Sports Writers Association and The Montgomery News Player of the Year honors in 2003
All-State and Super Six All-State choice
Member of The Birmingham News Super Senior list
In his final season, he completed 314 of 467 passes (67.24 percent) for 3,821 yards and 40 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions
Added All-State honorable mention as a junior, passing for 2,800 yards, 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions
Closed out his career with 615 of 978 attempts (62.88 percent) for 8,170 yards and 78 touchdowns
Was also a standout baseball player at Hoover.
Business Administration major
Son of Susan and Parker Wilson
Mother was a cheerleader at Alabama and his father played baseball in the Boston Red Sox minor league organization
Born John Parker Wilson on 10/17/85.
| Proj Rd: |
4-5 |
| Height: |
6-1 |
| Weight: |
219.0 |
| Forty: |
4.75 |
| Arm: |
31.0 |
| Hand: |
9 1/2 |
| Wingspan: |
-- |
| Cone: |
-- |
| Bench: |
-- |
| Shuttle: |
-- |
| 10: |
-- |
| 20: |
-- |
| 40: |
-- |
| BJ: |
-- |
| VJ: |
-- |
| Cone: |
7.53 |
| Bench: |
-- |
| Shuttle: |
4.59 |
| 10: |
1.58 |
| 20: |
2.76 |
| 40: |
4.75 |
| BJ: |
08'09" |
| VJ: |
29 1/2 |