 Versatile player with the ability to play corner or safety… Signed by Tampa Bay on March 17, 2008… Has played in 62 career regular season games with 55 starts, all with the New England Patriots… Also appeared in 10 playoff games with eight starts, including Super Bowl XXXVIII and Super Bowl XXXIX… Career totals include 252 tackles, 10 interceptions, 28 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and 13 special teams tackles… Signed by New England on July 21, 2003… Originally entered the league as a second-round (36th overall) selection by the New England Patriots in the 2003 NFL Draft. |
 2007: Saw action in 11 games (all but vs. Washington, at Indianapolis, at Buffalo, vs. Philadelphia and at Baltimore) with six starts (at N.Y. Jets, vs. San Diego, vs. Buffalo, at Cincinnati, vs. Cleveland and vs. N.Y. Jets) as a member of the New England Patriots… Finished the season with 32 tackles, one interception, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery… Started and tied for the team lead with seven tackles at N.Y. Jets (9/9)… Started and led the secondary with five tackles vs. San Diego (9/16)… Started and collected two tackles and one pass defensed vs. Buffalo (9/23)… Started and had three solo tackles at Cincinnati (10/1)… Started and led the secondary with seven tackles vs. Cleveland (10/7)… Had three tackles at Dallas (10/15)… Had one tackle at Miami (10/21)… Returned to action and had two tackles vs. Pittsburgh (12/9)… Started and recorded two tackles, one interception, which was returned five yards for a touchdown, one fumble recovery and one pass interception vs. N.Y. Jets (12/16)… Saw action vs. Miami (12/23) and at N.Y. Giants (12/29)… Inactive in AFC Divisional Playoff game vs. Jacksonville (1/11/08)… Played a reserve role in AFC Championship Game vs. San Diego (1/20/08)… Played a reserve role in Super Bowl XLII vs. N.Y. Giants (2/3). 2006: Started all four games (vs. Buffalo, at N.Y. Jets, vs. Denver and at Buffalo) appeared in before being placed on injured reserve on December 2 as a member of the New England Patriots… Season totals included 22 total tackles and two passes defensed… Collected six tackles vs. Buffalo (9/10)… Had seven tackles and one pass defensed at N.Y. Jets (9/17)… Had four tackles and one pass defensed vs. Denver (9/24)… Totaled five tackles at Buffalo (10/22). 2005: Started all 16 games and both playoff contests for the New England Patriots… Led the secondary with 65 tackles and added one interception, one fumble recovery and finished third on the team with seven passes defensed… Also recorded eight special teams tackles… Had seven tackles and two passes defensed vs. Oakland (9/8)… Registered five tackles and one fumble recovery at Pittsburgh (9/25)… Notched six tackles, one interception and two passes defensed vs. New Orleans (11/20)… Recorded three tackles and one forced fumble in AFC Wild Card game vs. Jacksonville (1/7/06). 2004: Started 14 (all but vs. N.Y. Jets and vs. San Francisco) of 15 regular season games (all but vs. San Francisco) active for, and all three postseason contests as a member of the New England Patriots… Started 11 games at safety and three cornerback… Named to ESPN.com’s All-Pro Team… Recorded a career-high 67 tackles and led the team with four interceptions… Also tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and finished third on the team with seven passes defensed ... Recorded three takeaways in the playoffs, with two interceptions and one fumble recovery... Named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September after notching 12 tackles, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery… Registered eight tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery against Indianapolis (9/9)… Collected four tackles and three passes defensed, including a career-best two interceptions at Arizona (9/19)… Registered two tackles and an interception at N.Y. Jets (12/26)… Registered four tackles and two interceptions in the Patriots’ 41-27 AFC Championship victory at Pittsburgh (1/23/05)… Recorded one tackle, one fumble recovery and added two special teams tackles in the Patriots’ 24-21 victory over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX (2/6/05). 2003: Started 15 of 16 regular season games (all but at Buffalo) and all three postseason games with the New England Patriots… Was part of a Patriots defense that led the NFL in four key categories: opponents’ points per game (14.9), opponents’ passer rating (56.2), interceptions (29) and passing touchdowns surrendered (11)… Named to ESPN.com’s All-Rookie Team and USA Today’s All-Joe Team after totaling 66 tackles, nine passes defensed and tied for the lead among all NFL rookies with four interceptions… Also added one stop on special teams… Made his NFL debut at Buffalo (9/7) and recorded first NFL interception… Started his first NFL game at Philadelphia (9/14)… Had five tackles and one interception at Miami (10/19)… Recorded five tackles and one interception at N.Y. Jets (12/20)… Tallied two passes defensed in the Patriots’ 33-29 Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over Carolina (2/1/04). |
 A three-year starter for the University of Illinois… Recorded 176 tackles and one sack in 45 games… Ranks sixth on the Illinois all-time interception list with 11, while his 60 pass deflections shattered the previous Illini record of 26, held by Bobby Jackson (1997-2001), Marlon Primous (1988-91) and Robert Crumpton (1991-94)... Returned 93 punts (second all-time) for a school career-record 896 yards (9.6 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns, surpassing the old mark of 790 yards by Darryl Usher (1985-87)… As a senior was named All-Big Ten (second-team) and the Fighting Illini Special Teams Player of the Year… As a junior, was a consensus All-Big Ten (first-team) selection and was named All-American (third-team) by The Sporting News and second-team honors from The NFL Draft Report and Football News... Lined up at strong-side cornerback and led the nation with a school season-record 30 pass deflections… As a sophomore, was named All-Big Ten (honorable mention)… Played in 10 games as a freshman and saw action mostly as a punt returner... Recorded a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Arkansas State (Illinois’ first punt returned for a score since 1984)… Majored in speech communication. |
 Attended Merrillville (Ind.) High School... All-Duneland Athletic Conference selection... Conference Defensive MVP, two-time all-state selection and Defensive Player of the Year... Played cornerback, running back and wide receiver, earning three letters in football and four in basketball... Four-year varsity starter in basketball, twice earning All-Conference accolades... Led the team in scoring and assists as a senior... Born Eugene W. Wilson II on August 17, 1980 in Maywood, Illinois. |
