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Sons try to follow fathers to NFL
[SIZE=-1]By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/04-07/0412wilson.jpg Getty Images
Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson's father Tim played for the Houston Oilers.
Maryland's Josh Wilson is one of several aspiring second-generation NFLers in the 2007 draft. His father, the late Tim Wilson, used to pave the way for Earl Campbell in Houston. There's also Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie, whose father Steve played for the Cowboys in the 1980s. "I wish family ties could get you into the NFL," Zak said, "but it's not that easy."
[SIZE=-1][/SIZE] Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson is carrying more than the memory of his father in his quest for a professional football career.
Wilson is carrying his dad's trading card in his wallet and a small tattoo of his father on his chest with the inscription, "Forever In My Heart." Tim Wilson was Earl Campbell's blocking back with the Houston Oilers. He passed away of a heart attack in 1996, when Josh was 11.
Sitting at a table at the NFL scouting combine in February, Wilson pulled out a worn trading card of his father from the 1970s. It was covered in plastic in a last-ditch effort to keep the tattered card in one piece. http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/nfl/draft/vitindex.html
"I just remember he's always with me," Wilson said. "That's the reason I got the tattoo. I wanted a way to carry it with me all the time. If somebody stole my wallet, I'd be pretty upset, because I've got something more valuable than money in there."
Wilson is one of several aspiring second-generation NFLers in the 2007 draft.
Pitt linebacker H.B. Blades (Bennie), Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie (Steve), Ohio State guard T.J. Downing (Walt), Virginia Tech offensive tackle Brandon Frye (Stan Rome), Stanford safety David Lofton (James), Oregon safety J.D. Nelson (Darrin) and Texas guard Kasey Studdard (Les) all have fathers who played in the NFL.
Cal linebacker Desmond Bishop (Dennis) and Southern Cal center Ryan Kalil (Frank) have fathers who played in the USFL.
"I wish family ties could get you into the NFL," said DeOssie, "but it's not that easy."
Tim Wilson was a third-round draft pick by the Oilers out of Maryland in 1977. He started at fullback from 1977 to '81, a span in which Campbell won three NFL rushing titles and a fourth AFC crown. Josh Wilson wasn't born until 1985, but the Campbells remain a part of his family.
"When my grandfather passed away recently, Earl Campbell's wife came up," Wilson said. "I still talk to Earl. I call him my Uncle Earl. I talked to him on the phone, and he's all excited and telling me he's been reading all of my articles.
"I say, 'You're in the Hall of Fame and have a Heisman Trophy. Why are you so excited reading stories about a kid from Maryland?' He told me, 'Because I've known you for so long. I never thought I'd have this chance to see you grow up to be the player that you are.'
"It makes me proud to have someone of his status say that to me."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/04-07/0412wilson.jpg Getty Images
Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson's father Tim played for the Houston Oilers.
Wilson figures to go higher in the draft than his father. Josh was All-ACC on the field and in the classroom in 2006. He also returns kickoffs, averaging 27.3 yards in his career with a touchdown, and he blew NFL scouts away at the combine with his 4.36-speed in the 40.
"My dad told me something that still drives me today," Wilson said. "The first year I played football, I wanted to play running back so bad, but the coach never gave me a chance. So my dad told me, 'You're going to get one opportunity, and when you get it, you've got to take it.'
"It came in a scrimmage, and I scored five straight touchdowns against our starting defense. From then on, I was the starting tailback and defensive tackle.
"Ever since that day I've taken every opportunity I've been given every day in practice. I'm just as competitive in practice as I am in games, because you never know what play is going to be your final play. You have to play every play like it's your last."
Just like his dad.
[SIZE=-1]By RICK GOSSELIN / The Dallas Morning News
rgosselin@***BANNED-URL***[/SIZE]
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/04-07/0412wilson.jpg Getty Images
Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson's father Tim played for the Houston Oilers.
Maryland's Josh Wilson is one of several aspiring second-generation NFLers in the 2007 draft. His father, the late Tim Wilson, used to pave the way for Earl Campbell in Houston. There's also Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie, whose father Steve played for the Cowboys in the 1980s. "I wish family ties could get you into the NFL," Zak said, "but it's not that easy."
[SIZE=-1][/SIZE] Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson is carrying more than the memory of his father in his quest for a professional football career.
Wilson is carrying his dad's trading card in his wallet and a small tattoo of his father on his chest with the inscription, "Forever In My Heart." Tim Wilson was Earl Campbell's blocking back with the Houston Oilers. He passed away of a heart attack in 1996, when Josh was 11.
Sitting at a table at the NFL scouting combine in February, Wilson pulled out a worn trading card of his father from the 1970s. It was covered in plastic in a last-ditch effort to keep the tattered card in one piece. http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/nfl/draft/vitindex.html
"I just remember he's always with me," Wilson said. "That's the reason I got the tattoo. I wanted a way to carry it with me all the time. If somebody stole my wallet, I'd be pretty upset, because I've got something more valuable than money in there."
Wilson is one of several aspiring second-generation NFLers in the 2007 draft.
Pitt linebacker H.B. Blades (Bennie), Brown linebacker Zak DeOssie (Steve), Ohio State guard T.J. Downing (Walt), Virginia Tech offensive tackle Brandon Frye (Stan Rome), Stanford safety David Lofton (James), Oregon safety J.D. Nelson (Darrin) and Texas guard Kasey Studdard (Les) all have fathers who played in the NFL.
Cal linebacker Desmond Bishop (Dennis) and Southern Cal center Ryan Kalil (Frank) have fathers who played in the USFL.
"I wish family ties could get you into the NFL," said DeOssie, "but it's not that easy."
Tim Wilson was a third-round draft pick by the Oilers out of Maryland in 1977. He started at fullback from 1977 to '81, a span in which Campbell won three NFL rushing titles and a fourth AFC crown. Josh Wilson wasn't born until 1985, but the Campbells remain a part of his family.
"When my grandfather passed away recently, Earl Campbell's wife came up," Wilson said. "I still talk to Earl. I call him my Uncle Earl. I talked to him on the phone, and he's all excited and telling me he's been reading all of my articles.
"I say, 'You're in the Hall of Fame and have a Heisman Trophy. Why are you so excited reading stories about a kid from Maryland?' He told me, 'Because I've known you for so long. I never thought I'd have this chance to see you grow up to be the player that you are.'
"It makes me proud to have someone of his status say that to me."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/04-07/0412wilson.jpg Getty Images
Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson's father Tim played for the Houston Oilers.
Wilson figures to go higher in the draft than his father. Josh was All-ACC on the field and in the classroom in 2006. He also returns kickoffs, averaging 27.3 yards in his career with a touchdown, and he blew NFL scouts away at the combine with his 4.36-speed in the 40.
"My dad told me something that still drives me today," Wilson said. "The first year I played football, I wanted to play running back so bad, but the coach never gave me a chance. So my dad told me, 'You're going to get one opportunity, and when you get it, you've got to take it.'
"It came in a scrimmage, and I scored five straight touchdowns against our starting defense. From then on, I was the starting tailback and defensive tackle.
"Ever since that day I've taken every opportunity I've been given every day in practice. I'm just as competitive in practice as I am in games, because you never know what play is going to be your final play. You have to play every play like it's your last."
Just like his dad.