When you think of New York Giants and running backs, many names come to mind. Rodney Hampton. Brandon Jacobs. Derrick Ward. Ahmad Bradshaw. Oh, and of course: the recently departed Saquon Barkley. But, many forget about the speedy David Wilson, whos Giants career was cut short to a neck injury. How good was Wilson, you ask? He could’ve been the team’s RB1 for a decade.
A Top Five Running Back Coming Out Of College
Wilson attended George Washington High School in Virginia, where he would set records multiple times during his senior year. He had 2,292 yards and 35 touchdowns, helping him win the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state. The running back would commit to Virginia Tech, where he would spend three years at.
After two years serving as a backup (recording nine total touchdowns), he got the starting job his junior year. With him as the primary back, he took advantage of the opportunity.
Wilson had 290 carries that year, racking up 1,709 rushing yards (a school record) and nine touchdowns as he helped the Hokies finish with an 11-3 record.
The back declared for the NFL Draft after that breakout year, believing he would be a first-round pick. The 5’9″ prospect ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and his 41-inch vertical jump was the best at the combine.
With all of that said, he impressed the Giants enough to make his dreams come true, selecting him with the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. The odds of that happening were slim, but it didn’t matter to the former Hokie.
A Short Giants Career
Wilson appeared in all 16 games during his rookie year, starting in two of them. However, he was thrown into the “doghouse” early, fumbling in his debut week one against the Cowboys (finishing with two carries for four yards).
However, Wilson made his impact on special teams, leading the league in kickoff return yards and helped him earn second-team All-Pro honors. He had six games with 100+ kick return yards, including an insane 217 yards in week four against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In the rushing game, he broke out in week 13. Against the New Orleans Saints, Wilson had 13 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Oh, and he casually had 227 return yards and a touchdown. Something “light for the kids”, as they used to say.
327 scrimmage yards total. Absolutely insane. The running back would finish the season with four straight games with at least 100+ all-purpose yards, giving the Giants proof they made the right decision selecting the speedy, athletic back.
Unfortunately, things soured in his sophomore season. Wilson played just five games in 2013, before going down with a neck injury against the Eagles in week five. The injury was severe, leaving Wilson with numbness in his lower extremities. He would be inactive for the next three games before being placed on injured reserve.
His best performance that season was in week two, recording just 37 rushing yards but 121 kickoff return yards. Wilson’s lone touchdowns of the season came in that Eagles game, scoring on the ground.
January 2014 saw him receive surgery for a herniated disk, and made his return for training camp. However, a hit caused him to feel the same symptoms as that faithful day against the Eagles, which led doctors to tell him to quit the game he loved. If he kept playing, there was an increased risk for paralysis.
After getting two opinions on the matter, Wilson would retire from the NFL.
A Short But Memorable Career
Wilson will always be remember for the big plays he made on the ground and on kickoff returns. He displayed incredible patience and awareness that helped him succeed at the professional level.
In 21 games, Wilson had 115 carries for 504 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 1,755 return yards and a touchdown in that department too.
If he didn’t have that injury, you could argue he would have been the team’s RB1 for a decade and more. At the end of the day, he’s a player you should not forget about. David Wilson was a dynamic playmaker for his size. Once a Giant, Always a Giant.
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Featured Image: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
