Eric Wilkerson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1966)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Eric Wilkerson
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 40
| position = Running back
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|12|19}}
| birth_place = Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 9
| weight_lb = 185
| high_school = Central Catholic
(Cleveland, Ohio)
| college = Kent State (1985–1988)
| undraftedyear = 1989
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|1989}})
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1990}})*
- New York/New Jersey Knights (1991–1992)
- Cleveland Thunderbolts ({{AFL Year|1993}})
| highlights =
- MAC Most Valuable Player (1987)
- MAC Offensive Player of the Year (1987)
- Kent State Golden Flashes No. 40 retired
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 1
| aflstatlabel1 = Total tackles
| aflstatvalue1 = 5
| aflstatlabel2 = Interceptions
| aflstatvalue2 = 1
| pfr = W/WilkEr20
| afl = Eric_Wilkerson-1697
}}
Eric LaShawn Wilkerson (born December 19, 1966) is an American former football running back who played one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Kent State Golden Flashes.{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/playerw/wilk01200.html|title=ERIC WILKERSON|publisher=profootballarchives.com|access-date=December 14, 2015}} He was also a member of the Detroit Lions, the New York/New Jersey Knights and the Cleveland Thunderbolts.
Early life
Wilkerson lettered in football and track all four years for the Cleveland Central Catholic High School Ironmen. He rushed for nearly 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns his senior year. He also finished fourth in the state track meet in the 400 meters. Wilkerson earned All-Conference and All-Scholastic honors.{{cite web|url=http://www.supportgoldenflashes.com/Class_of_1995_bios/ |title=Class of 1995 - Biographies |publisher=supportgoldenflashes.com |access-date=December 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214183158/http://www.supportgoldenflashes.com/Class_of_1995_bios/ |archive-date=December 14, 2015 }} He has been inducted into the school's hall of fame.{{cite web|url=http://lee.n8d.com/2010/wilkerson-eric/ |title=WILKERSON, ERIC |publisher=lee.n8d.com |date=October 21, 2010 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |author=Bolton, Lee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214182744/http://lee.n8d.com/2010/wilkerson-eric/ |archive-date=December 14, 2015 }}
College career
Wilkerson played for the Kent State Golden Flashes from 1985 to 1988, recording career totals of 3,830 yards and 36 touchdowns on 739 rushing attempts. He also accumulated two kick return touchdowns, two passing touchdowns and 506 receiving yards on 44 receptions.{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/eric-wilkerson-1.html | title=Eric Wilkerson | publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=sports-reference.com | access-date=December 14, 2015}} He was named the MAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year in 1987 after rushing for 1,221 yards and ten touchdowns. Wilkerson led the MAC in rushing yards in 1988 with 1,325 and in rushing touchdowns with 14. He earned First-team All-MAC honors three times during his college career. He also earned AP Honorable Mention All-American honors in 1987 and 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.hustlebelt.com/2011/5/5/2154687/kent-state-best-football-player-macwood-squares |title=MACwood Squares: Who Is The Best Kent State Football Player? |publisher=hustlebelt.com |date=May 5, 2011 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |author=Sussman, Matt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214173321/http://www.hustlebelt.com/2011/5/5/2154687/kent-state-best-football-player-macwood-squares |archive-date=December 14, 2015 }} Wilkerson was selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game following his senior season. He was inducted into the Varsity "K" Hall of Fame in 1995. His number 40 was retired by the Golden Flashes on March 1, 1989.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 8 3/4
| weight = 181
| dash = 4.63
| ten split = 1.61
| twenty split = 2.73
| shuttle = 4.28
| vertical = 37.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 4
| bench = 9
| arm span = 32 3/4
| hand span = 9 1/2
| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=25892 |title=Eric Wilkerson, Combine Results, WR - Kent State (OH) |website=nflcombineresults.com |access-date=May 31, 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://ras.football/2019/12/31/eric-wilkerson-ras/?amp |title=Eric Wilkerson RAS |website=ras.football |access-date=May 31, 2023}}
}}
Wilkerson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 11, 1989.{{cite news | url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/11/Steelers-sign-three-more-free-agents/3899610862400/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214173819/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/11/Steelers-sign-three-more-free-agents/3899610862400/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 14, 2015 | title=Steelers sign three more free agents | work=United Press International | date=May 11, 1989 | access-date=December 14, 2015}} He later converted to wide receiver.{{cite news | url=http://dks.library.kent.edu/cgi-bin/kentstate?a=d&d=dks19890928-01.2.36 | title=Wilkerson adjusting to role with Steelers | work=Daily Kent Stater | date=September 28, 1989 | access-date=December 14, 2015 | author=Cowley, Joe | pages=9}} He was released by the Steelers on September 4, 1989, and signed to the team's practice squad on September 6, 1989.{{cite news | url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/04/Pittsburgh-Steelers-waive-11/2142620884800/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214174641/http://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/09/04/Pittsburgh-Steelers-waive-11/2142620884800/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 14, 2015 | title=Pittsburgh Steelers waive 11 | work=United Press International | date=September 4, 1989 | access-date=December 14, 2015}} Wilkerson played in one game for the Steelers during the 1989 season. He was also active for the team's two postseason games that year.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WilkEr20/gamelog/ | title=Eric Wilkerson | publisher=Sports Reference LLC | work=pro-football-reference.com | access-date=December 14, 2015}} He became a free agent after the 1989 season.{{cite news | url=http://archives.post-gazette.com/newspage/94874120/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214175301/http://archives.post-gazette.com/newspage/94874120/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 14, 2015 | title=UNPROTECTED | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=February 1, 1990 | access-date=December 14, 2015 | pages=101}}
Wilkerson then signed with the Detroit Lions during the 1990 off-season.{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19900327&id=BJQcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mWMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4928,6591205&hl=en | title=Steelers | work=The Pittsburgh Press | date=March 27, 1990 | access-date=December 14, 2015}} He was released by the Lions on September 3, 1990, and re-signed by the team later.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/09/04/cutdown-day-team-by-team-transactions/50730abb-b68f-46ea-a03c-e6d5a0846239/ |title=CUTDOWN DAY TEAM-BY-TEAM TRANSACTIONS |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 4, 1990 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214180421/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1990/09/04/cutdown-day-team-by-team-transactions/50730abb-b68f-46ea-a03c-e6d5a0846239/ |archive-date=December 14, 2015 }}{{cite web | url=http://www.nfl.com/player/ericwilkerson/2528812/profile | title=Eric Wilkerson | work=nfl.com | access-date=December 14, 2015}}
Wilkerson was selected by the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football in the 1991 WLAF Draft. He led the league in rushing with 717 yards in 1991 and garnered Second-team All-World League accolades. He also tied for the league lead with eleven total touchdowns after recording seven rushing and four receiving scores.{{cite web|url=http://www.tradingcarddb.com/GalleryP.cfm/pid/19472/Eric-Wilkerson |title=Eric Wilkerson |publisher=tradingcarddb.com |access-date=December 14, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214181932/http://www.tradingcarddb.com/GalleryP.cfm/pid/19472/Eric-Wilkerson |archive-date=December 14, 2015 }} Wilkerson recorded 404 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in 1992.{{cite web | url=http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=wilkeeri001&recsort=5 | title=Eric Wilkerson | publisher=justsportsstats.com | access-date=December 14, 2015}}
Wilkerson played for the Cleveland Thunderbolts in 1993, recording five tackles, one pass breakup and one interception.{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafan.com/players/Eric_Wilkerson-1697/ | title=Eric Wilkerson | publisher=arenafan.com | access-date=December 14, 2015}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=wilkeeri001&recsort=5 Stats Crew profile]
- [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/eric-wilkerson-1.html College stats]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkerson, Eric}}
Category:Players of American football from Cleveland
Category:American football running backs
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:American football defensive backs
Category:Kent State Golden Flashes football players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:New York/New Jersey Knights players
Category:Cleveland Thunderbolts players