2008 Football Roster
E.J. Wilson
- Position:
- Defensive End
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 280
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Lawrenceville, VA
- High School:
- Brunswick
Strong and powerful player who has improved throughout his career • Posted 29 tackles for losses and 12 sacks during his career • Set UNC record in the squat (670 lbs.) for a defensive end.
2009 - Senior Season
In his third year as the starter at defensive end • Started 37 games in his career, including 32 consecutive from 2007-09 • Saw his 32-game start streak come to an end at Virginia Tech due to a thigh injury that week in practice • Finished the season with 49 tackles, which is a career high • Ranked tied for second on the team with 12 tackles for losses • Also had four sacks, one pass breakup, six quarterback pressures and two fumble returns for 12 yards • Posted five tackles, including a sack, against Pitt in the Meineke Car Care Bowl • Continued to play well late in the season with a career-high nine tackles, including two for loss, at NC State in the final regular season game • Had an outstanding game at Boston College with six tackles, an 8-yard sack and a forced fumble • Made one tackle and had a quarterback pressure in a 33-24 win over No. 12 Miami • Had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for losses and one quarterback hurry in the 19-6 win over Duke • Was part of a defensive unit that limited Duke to just 125 total yards • Played against the Hokies and had three tackles, including a 9-yard sack, broke up a pass and had one quarterback hurry in the win • Made five tackles, including two tackles for losses of nine yards and an 8-yard sack vs. Florida State • Forced a fumble on the sack, which Carolina recovered • Had a 12-yard run after recovering a fumble vs. Georgia Southern which set up a touchdown • Posted four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for losses, vs. Virginia • Credited with six tackles, including a 3-yard tackle for loss, at Georgia Tech • Had four tackles and forced a fumble that Carolina recovered in the win over ECU • Posted a 3-yard tackles for loss in the win at Connecticut • Had one tackle and recovered a fumble in Carolina's season opening win over The Citadel.
2008: Started all 13 games and had 38 tackles, 4.5 tackles for losses, one sack and one pass breakup • Had a team-high 13 quarterback hurries • Recorded two tackles in the bowl game vs. West Virginia • Had one tackle and one quarterback hurry in the 28-20 win at Duke • Posted three tackles at Maryland • Registered seven tackles and two quarterback hurries in the 28-7 win over No. 22 Georgia Tech • Had one tackle and two quarterback pressures in the 45-24 win over No. 23 Boston College • Recorded four tackles and had an 11-yard sack at Virginia • Broke up a pass and had two quarterback pressures against Notre Dame • Credited with three quarterback pressures, including one that led to a Marvin Austin interception, in Carolina's 38-12 win over No. 24 Connecticut • Also had two tackles, including a tackle for loss assist, against the Huskies • Had one tackle in the win at Miami • Posted three tackles vs. Virginia Tech • Had three tackles and a pressure in the win at Rutgers • Earned Co-ACC Defensive Lineman Player of the Week honors for his performance against McNeese State in week one • Also was the UNC coaches' choice for player of the week recognition • Had eight tackles, including three tackles for losses • Posted five primary stops and three assists vs. the Cowboys.
2007: Started all 12 games at defensive end • Recorded six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack, in the win over Duke • Also forced a fumble against the Blue Devils • Made four tackles and posted an 8-yard sack at Georgia Tech • Posted five tackles at NC?State • Had three tackles, including a tackle for loss, broke up a pass and had a quarterback pressure in the win over Maryland • Played his best game at Wake Forest with a career-high eight tackles, including one tackle for loss • Had a 3-yard sack against No. 7 South Carolina • Posted a sack and had two tackles in the 33-27 victory over Miami • Had two tackles at Virginia Tech • Posted five tackles, including one tackle for loss, and recovered a fumble at No. 23 USF • Recorded three tackles and assisted on a tackle for loss for three yards in the loss to Virginia • Posted three tackles in the loss at ECU, including a 6-yard sack of ECU's Patrick Pinkney • Started at defensive end in Carolina's 37-14 victory over James Madison and had two tackles and recovered a fumble.
2006 - Freshman Season?
Finished the season with 19 tackles, including nine solo and 10 assists, and three tackles for losses and two sacks • Had three tackles at Duke • Had one tackle against NC?State • Posted three solo stops against Georgia Tech • Had his best game of the season with four tackles (two primary, two assists) and a 6-yard sack of Brady Quinn in the loss at Notre Dame • Posted two tackles against Wake Forest • Had two tackles, including one solo stop and one assist • Plays primarily in pass rush situations • Had one tackle, a 2-yard sack, against Clemson • Posted one tackle against Furman • Had one tackle against Virginia Tech • Saw his first career action against Rutgers at defensive end and had a 3-yard tackle for loss.
Brunswick High School
Ranked the No. 26 player in Virginia by The Roanoke Times • Ranked among the top 35 players in Virginia by SuperPrep • Played numerous positions as a senior due to the youth of the team, which featured only five upperclassmen • First-team all-district wide receiver and defensive back • First-team all-region wide receiver, second-team all-region defensive back • All-state selection at wide receiver • Averaged 32.1 yards per reception and caught six touchdown passes in 2004 • Also played some running back and quarterback • Rushed for four touchdowns and averaged 7.5 yards per carry • Threw for two touchdowns at quarterback • Averaged 7.7 tackles per game while playing defensive back, linebacker and free safety as a senior • All-state performer in 300-meter hurdles • Played forward on the state champion basketball team • Has a 4.2 GPA • Coached by Harold Williams.
Personal
Son of Helen and Earl Wilson, Sr. • Born on October 28, 1987 • Exercise and sports science major • Would most like to have dinner with his grandmother, Richard Pryor and Barack Obama • Has his parents' names on my biceps because they are his strength • People say he looks like David Banner • If he could change the world in one way, he would eliminate racism and sexism • Followed the Dallas Cowboys as a child because all of his family members were Redskins fans • Would most like to appear on the cover of Forbes • Favorite musical artist is Jay-Z.
Year Pri A Total TFL SACKS INT PBU FF FR 2006 9 10 19 3.0-13 2.0-10 0 0 0 0 2007 24 20 44 9.5-40 5.0-26 0 2 1 2-0 2008 20 18 38 4.5-17 1.0-11 0 1 0 0 2009 40 9 49 12.0-51 4.0-33 0 1 3 2-12 Totals 93 57 150 29.0-121 12.0-80 0 4 4 4-12
Career Highs: 9 tackles at NC State (2009), vs. McNeese State (2008)
