Blidi Wreh-Wilson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1989)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Blidi Wreh-Wilson
| image = Blidi Wreh-Wilson.JPG
| alt = Blidi Wreh-Wilson
| caption = Wreh-Wilson with the Tennessee Titans in 2013
| number = 29, 25, 38, 33, 36
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1989|12|5|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Edinboro, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 190
| high_school = General McLane (Edinboro)
| college = Connecticut (2008–2012)
| draftyear = 2013
| draftround = 3
| draftpick = 70
| pastteams = * Tennessee Titans ({{NFL Year|2013}}–{{NFL Year|2015}})
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2021}})
| status =
| highlights = * Second-team All-Big East (2012)
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 132
| statlabel2 = Forced fumbles
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = Pass deflections
| statvalue3 = 28
| statlabel4 = Interceptions
| statvalue4 = 4
| pfr = WrehBl00
}}
Blidi Bertrand Wreh-Wilson ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|l|iː|d|i|_|ˈ|r|eɪ}} {{respell|BLEE|dee|_|RAY}}; born December 5, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the UConn Huskies.
Wreh-Wilson played for the Titans for three seasons, primarily in a reserve role except in 2014. After being released by the Titans after the 2015 season, he then spent the next five seasons with the Atlanta Falcons where he remained in a backup role until 2020. In 2021, he had an offseason stint with the Las Vegas Raiders before playing in one regular season game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Early life
Blidi attended General McLane High School in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, where he was a four-sport star in football, basketball, track and soccer. He played for the General McLane Lancers high school football team and for General McLane's 2007 PIAA AAA Basketball State Championship team, which in the same year won the PIAA AAA Football State Championship. This made General McLane the first high school in PIAA history to accomplish such a feat. Wreh-Wilson was not on the football team as he was on the soccer team. Switching fall sports in his senior year from soccer to football, Wreh-Wilson was an honorable mention all-state pick as a senior. Rated only a two-star recruit by Rivals, he committed to Connecticut over an offer from Buffalo.{{Cite web |title=Blidi Wreh-Wilson Recruiting |url=https://247sports.com/Recruitment/Blidi-Wreh-Wilson-33141/RecruitInterests |website=247Sports |accessdate=August 6, 2017}} In track, he ran the 100-meter dash in 11.4 seconds,{{Cite web |title=PIAA District 10 AAA Championships 2008 - Complete Results (Raw) |url=http://pa.milesplit.com/meets/35664/results/67920}} and the 400-meter dash in 51.03 seconds.{{Cite web |title=City of Hermitage T&F Invite- Boys Results |url=http://pa.milesplit.com/meets/35377/results/65487 |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20141109233626/http://pa.milesplit.com/meets/35377/results/65487 |archive-date=2014-11-09 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=PennTrackXC.com}}
College career
While attending the University of Connecticut, Wreh-Wilson played for the Connecticut Huskies football team from 2008 to 2012.
After being redshirted in 2008, Wreh-Wilson saw action in all 13 games of the 2009 season. He started nine games, including the final seven games of the season, and recorded a total of 40 tackles and one interception.
Wreh-Wilson started all 13 games for the Huskies at the cornerback position in 2010. He had four interceptions on the season, two of which were returned for touchdowns, and also recorded 57 tackles, five pass deflections, and one fumble recovery.
In the 2011 season, Wreh-Wilson only played in eight games due to a knee injury, but managed to start all eight games, and recorded 37 tackles, including two for a loss, along with two interceptions and seven pass deflections.
As a senior in 2012, Wreh-Wilson played in and started 11 games, and was honored as the team's Most Valuable Player. He was also a second-team All-Big East selection and recorded 47 tackles, nine pass deflections, and an interception.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 3/4
| weight = 195
| dash = 4.53
| ten split = 1.57
| twenty split = 2.52
| shuttle = 4.12
| cone drill = 6.97
| vertical = 36
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 8
| bench = 14
| wonderlic =
| arm span = 32
| hand span = 8 5/8
| note = All values from NFL Combine
}}
=Tennessee Titans=
The Tennessee Titans chose Wreh-Wilson in the third round, with the 70th overall pick, of the 2013 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=2013 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2013/draft.htm |access-date=February 24, 2019 |website=Pro-Football-Reference}} He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Titans on June 20, 2013.{{cite web | title=Titans Sign Third-Round Pick Blidi Wreh-Wilson | website=TennesseeTitans.com | date=2013-06-20 | url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/news/titans-sign-third-round-pick-blidi-wreh-wilson-10379074 | access-date=2025-02-24}} As a rookie, he played in 13 games in a reserve role and contributed nine tackles, one tackle for loss, one pass defensed, and one forced fumble while adding five tackles and one forced fumble on special teams.
In 2014, Wreh-Wilson started 11 games at cornerback and ranked second on the team with 10 passes defensed. He recorded 57 tackles, an interception, and a quarterback pressure in the 2014 season.{{Cite web |title=2014 Tennessee Titans Statistics & Players |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/2014.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference |accessdate=August 6, 2017}}
On August 28, 2016, Wreh-Wilson was waived by the Titans.{{Cite web |last=Wyatt |first=Jim |date=August 28, 2016 |title=Titans Make First Round of Roster Cuts |url=http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Make-First-Round-of-Roster-Cuts/5cc39654-c023-4d06-9e37-336a50536431 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807022912/http://www.titansonline.com/news/article-4/Titans-Make-First-Round-of-Roster-Cuts/5cc39654-c023-4d06-9e37-336a50536431 |archive-date=August 7, 2017 |website=Titans Online |accessdate=August 6, 2017}}
=Atlanta Falcons=
File:Vernon Davis, Blidi Wreh-Wilson (44997542914).jpg in 2018]]
On November 29, 2016, Wreh-Wilson was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.{{Cite web |last=Jackson, Curtis |date=November 29, 2016 |title=Falcons Place Desmond Trufant On IR |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/Falcons-Place-Desmond-Trufant-on-IR/738beb9d-6860-4495-b716-2acbacc03efe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830193308/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/Falcons-Place-Desmond-Trufant-on-IR/738beb9d-6860-4495-b716-2acbacc03efe |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |publisher=Atlanta Falcons}} He was released by the Falcons on December 9, 2016, but he was re-signed three days later.{{Cite web |last=Jackson, Curtis |date=December 9, 2016 |title=Falcons Promote WR Nick Williams to Active Roster |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/Falcons-Promote-WR-Nick-Williams-to-Active-Roster/f4726900-f14c-4ef5-aca8-9c40cf69e3b8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231101215/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/blog/article-1/Falcons-Promote-WR-Nick-Williams-to-Active-Roster/f4726900-f14c-4ef5-aca8-9c40cf69e3b8 |archive-date=December 31, 2017 |publisher=Atlanta Falcons}} He was inactive for the Falcons' 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.{{Cite web |last=Weaver |first=Tim |date=February 5, 2017 |title=Falcons vs. Patriots: Final inactives for Super Bowl LI |url=http://thefalconswire.usatoday.com/2017/02/05/falcons-vs-patriots-final-inactives-for-super-bowl-li/ |website=USA Today |accessdate=August 6, 2017}}
- {{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201702050atl.htm |website=Pro-Football-Reference |accessdate=August 6, 2017}}
On March 10, 2017, Wreh-Wilson signed a one-year contract with the Falcons.{{Cite web |last=Choate, Dave |date=March 10, 2017 |title=Report: Falcons will re-sign cornerback Blidi-Wreh Wilson |url=http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2017/3/10/14887684/report-falcons-will-re-sign-cornerback-blidi-wreh-wilson-2017-nfl-free-agency |website=The Falcoholic}}
On March 10, 2018, Wreh-Wilson signed a one-year contract extension with the Falcons.{{Cite web |last=McFadden |date=March 10, 2018 |title=Falcons sign cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson to one-year extension |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/transactions/article-1/Falcons-sign-cornerback-Blidi-Wreh-Wilson-to-one-year-extension/00c88ffa-9f3f-4c71-9e8e-e3570399e30a |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315022925/http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/transactions/article-1/Falcons-sign-cornerback-Blidi-Wreh-Wilson-to-one-year-extension/00c88ffa-9f3f-4c71-9e8e-e3570399e30a |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |publisher=Atlanta Falcons}}
On February 22, 2019, Wreh-Wilson signed another one-year contract extension with the Falcons.{{Cite web |last=McFadden, Will |date=February 22, 2019 |title=Falcons agree to terms with Blidi Wreh-Wilson on one-year extension |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-agree-to-terms-with-blidi-wreh-wilson-on-one-year-extension |publisher=Atlanta Falcons}}
On March 31, 2020, Wreh-Wilson re-signed with the Falcons.{{Cite web |last=McFadden, Will |date=March 22, 2020 |title=Falcons agree to terms with cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-agree-to-terms-with-cornerback-blidi-wreh-wilson |publisher=Atlanta Falcons}}
In week 3 of the 2020 season against the Chicago Bears, he recorded his first interception as a Falcon during the 30–26 loss.{{Cite web |title=Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons - September 27th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202009270atl.htm |access-date=September 29, 2020 |website=Pro-Football Reference}}
In week 8, against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, Wreh-Wilson intercepted a pass thrown by Teddy Bridgewater late in the fourth quarter to secure a 25–17 Falcons' victory.{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers - October 29th, 2020 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202010290car.htm |access-date=October 30, 2020 |website=Pro-Football Reference.com}}
=Las Vegas Raiders=
On June 9, 2021, Wreh-Wilson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2021 |title=Raiders add former Falcons CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-add-former-falcons-cb-blidi-wreh-wilson-nfl-2021 |publisher=Las Vegas Raiders}} He was released on August 31.{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2021 |title=Raiders finalize initial 53-man roster for 2021 season |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/las-vegas-raiders-initial-53-man-roster-2021-nfl-season |publisher=Las Vegas Raiders}}
=Tampa Bay Buccaneers=
On October 18, 2021, Wreh-Wilson was signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' practice squad.{{cite web|title=John Molchon Activated in Monday Round of Roster Moves|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-guard-john-molchon-activated-jaydon-mickens-released-roster-moves|author=Smith, Scott|publisher=Tampa Bay Buccaneers|date=October 18, 2021}} He appeared in one game before he was released on January 18, 2022.{{cite web | last=Easterling | first=Luke | title=Bucs make roster moves ahead of divisional playoff game vs. Rams | website=Bucs Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2022-01-18 | url=https://bucswire.usatoday.com/2022/01/18/nfl-news-roster-moves-tampa-bay-buccaneers-playoffs-practice-squad/ | access-date=2024-12-29}}{{Cite web |title=Blidi Wreh-Wilson 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WrehBl00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2013 | TEN
| 13 || 0 || 13 || 9 || 4 || 0.0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2014 | TEN
| 11 || 11 || 57 || 48 || 9 || 0.0 || 0 || 1 || 34 || 0 || 34 || 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2015 | TEN
| 10 || 3 || 20 || 19 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2016 | ATL
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2017 | ATL
| 8 || 1 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2018 | ATL
| 3 || 0 || 4 || 3 || 1 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2019 | ATL
| 14 || 2 || 25 || 21 || 4 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2020 | ATL
| 15 || 0 || 9 || 6 || 3 || 0.0 || 1 || 3 || 26 || 0 || 23 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021 | TAM
| 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 76 | 17 | 132 | 109 | 23 | 0.0 | 2 | 4 | 60 | 0 | 34 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
=Playoffs=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Team !colspan="2"| Games !colspan="5"| Tackles !colspan="5"| Interceptions !colspan="4"| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | |
| 2017 | ATL
| 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0.0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="2"| | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Personal life
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://uconnhuskies.com/sports/football/roster/blidi-wreh-wilson/2855 UCONN Huskies bio]
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Tennessee Titans 2013 draft navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wreh-Wilson, Blidi}}
Category:Sportspeople from Erie County, Pennsylvania
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:American people of Liberian descent
Category:UConn Huskies football players
Category:Players of American football from Pennsylvania
Category:Tennessee Titans players
Category:Atlanta Falcons players