Christian Wilkins

For the Australian model and actor, see Christian Wilkins (model).

Christian Wilkins
refer to caption
Wilkins with Clemson in 2016
No. 94 – Las Vegas Raiders
Position:Defensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1995-12-20) December 20, 1995 (age 29)
Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:310 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school:Framingham (Framingham, Massachusetts) Suffield Academy (Suffield, Connecticut)
College:Clemson (2015–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / round: 1 / pick: 13
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles:372
Sacks:22.5
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:6
Interceptions:1
Pass deflections:19
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Christian Wilkins (born December 20, 1995) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Early life

Wilkins is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts. He originally attended Framingham High School, before transferring to Suffield Academy in Suffield, Connecticut, after his freshman year.[1] In 35 games in high school he had 253 tackles and 28.5 sacks.[2] Wilkins was rated as a five-star recruit and was ranked among the top players in his class.[3] He committed to play college football at Clemson University.[4]

College career

As a freshman at Clemson in 2015, Wilkins played in 15 games with one start and had 33 tackles and two sacks.[5][6] As a sophomore in 2016, he was named an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy.[7] Wilkins was part of the Clemson team that defeated top-ranked Alabama in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship by a score of 35–31.[8] He also was part of Clemson’s 2018 team that defeated Alabama in the National Championship game led by Trevor Lawrence 44-16.[9] In the Florida State game and South Carolina game of 2018, Wilkins scored a touchdown for the Tigers.

College statistics

College statistics
Year GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Ast Total Loss Sack Int Yards Avg TD PD FR Yards TD FF
2015 11 18 15 33 4.5 2 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2016 15 24 24 48 13.0 3.5 0 0 0.0 0 9 2 0 0 0
2017 14 27 33 60 9.0 5 0 0 0.0 0 4 0 0 0 0
2018 15 25 26 51 14.0 5.5 0 0 0.0 0 2 2 0 0 1

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in
(1.91 m) 		315 lb
(143 kg) 		32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m) 		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 5.04 s 1.76 s 2.94 s 4.55 s 29.5 in
(0.75 m)		 8 ft 11 in
(2.72 m)		 28 reps 19
All values from 2019 NFL Combine[10][11][12]

Miami Dolphins

Wilkins was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round (13th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft.[13] In a Week 7 loss of 21-31 to the Buffalo Bills, Wilkins was ejected after throwing a punch at Cody Ford on the second play of the game.[14] In Week 9 against the New York Jets, Wilkins recorded his first career sack on Sam Darnold in the 26–18 win.[15] In Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Wilkins recorded his first career touchdown reception on a pass from Ryan Fitzpatrick in the 38–35 overtime victory.[16]

In Week 8 of the 2020 season against the Los Angeles Rams, Wilkins recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Jared Goff during the 28–17 win.[17] Wilkins was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on November 12, 2020,[18] and activated on November 25.[19]

In Week 15 of 2021 against the Jets, Wilkins lined up at fullback and recorded his second career touchdown on a flea flicker pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.[20]

The Dolphins picked up the fifth-year option on Wilkins' contract on April 28, 2022.[21]

Wilkins finished 2023 with a career-high nine sacks, establishing himself as a top tier player at his position.[22]

Las Vegas Raiders

On March 14, 2024, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Wilkins to a four-year deal worth $110 million, with $84.75 million guaranteed.[23] Wilkins produced 17 tackles, 2 sacks and 6 QB hits before suffering a foot injury in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos. He is out indefinitely following surgery to repair a Jones fracture.[24]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high
Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck FF FR Yds TD Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD
2019 MIA 16 14 56 30 26 2.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2
2020 MIA 14 12 47 28 19 1.5 0 1 0 0 1 8 8.0 8 0 5
2021 MIA 17 17 89 49 40 4.5 1 1 9 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 4
2022 MIA 17 17 98 59 39 3.5 2 1 2 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 6
2023 MIA 17 17 65 38 27 9.0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 2
Career 81 77 355 204 151 20.5 4 6 11 0 1 8 8.0 8 0 19

References

  1. ^ Whelan Jr., Tim (February 15, 2015). "Framingham's Wilkins living out football dreams at Suffield Academy". Milford Daily News. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Rittenberg, Adam (November 30, 2016). "The moment that changed Clemson star Christian Wilkins' life". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  3. ^ "Christian Wilkins, 2015 Defensive Tackle, Clemson". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Hall, Brendan C. (January 6, 2015). "Suffield's Christian Wilkins commits to Clemson". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
  5. ^ CONNER, DESMOND. "Christian Wilkins The Complete Package At Clemson".
  6. ^ "Player to watch: Christian Wilkins' versatility anchors Clemson defensive line". Independent Mail. July 26, 2016. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  7. ^ James, Pat (November 17, 2016). "Clemson lineman among 5 finalists for Bronko Nagurski Trophy as nation's top defender". Charlotte Observer. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "College Football Championship - Clemson vs Alabama Box Score, January 9, 2017". Sports Reference. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  9. ^ "College Football Playoff National Championship - Clemson vs Alabama Box Score, January 7, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Christian Wilkins Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
  11. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Christian Wilkins College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ^ "The Wonderlic Scores for NFL Draft's Top Prospects Have Leaked". April 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Patra, Kevin (April 26, 2019). "Christian Wilkins wants to fill Wade's shoes in Miami". NFL.com. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  14. ^ Zucker, Joseph. "Dolphins' Christian Wilkins Ejected for Throwing Punch on 2nd Play vs. Bills". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Dolphins get first win of 2019, top Jets 26-18". ESPN. November 3, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "Cincinnati Bengals at Miami Dolphins - December 22nd, 2019". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  17. ^ "Los Angeles Rams at Miami Dolphins – November 1st, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  18. ^ "Lynn Bowden Jr. Activated, Three Others Placed on Reserve/COVID List". MiamiDolphins.com. November 12, 2020. Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  19. ^ "Activated Christian Wilkins Off Reserve/COVID-19 List". MiamiDolphins.com. November 25, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2020.
  20. ^ Wagner, Jonathan (December 19, 2021). "WATCH: Christian Wilkins pulls out hilarious celebration after first career touchdown". On3. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "Fifth-year option tracker for first-round picks from the 2019 NFL Draft". NFL.com. April 25, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Christian Wilkins Stats, News and Video - DT". NFL.com. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "Raiders sign DT Christian Wilkins". Raiders.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  24. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 8, 2024). "Raiders DT Christian Wilkins (foot) out indefinitely following surgery". NFL.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.

Further reading