35 Days Until FSU Football: Reinard Wilson Records 35.5 Career Sacks

There are 35 days left until Florida State football starts the 2018 season. As part of the offseason, we’re highlighting players, games, and specific moments from FSU football history.

On Sunday, it was Florida State’s current bowl streak that sits at 36 straight appearances.

Today, it’s former FSU defensive end Reinard Wilson and his FSU record 35.5 career sacks.

A native of Lake City, Wilson was part of Florida State defenses under coordinator Mickey Andrews who weren’t shy about punishing opposing quarterbacks. At 6-foot-2 and 250 pounds, Wilson was relentless of the edge and had the speed to boot.

As a freshman reserve on the 1993 national championship team, Wilson recorded two sacks. After playing behind the likes of Derrick Alexander and Toddrick McIntosh, Wilson broke out as a sophomore in 1994.

That season, Wilson led the Seminoles and the ACC with 11 sacks. As a junior in 1995, Wilson recorded nine sacks and was named an All-ACC selection, but it was the 1996 season that would cement Wilson’s spot in FSU history.

With Peter Boulware manning the other defensive end position, Wilson would record 13.5 sacks as a senior — the fourth-most in school history. Wilson recorded three sacks each that season in wins over Miami and Maryland. Wilson also paced the Seminoles with 105 tackles as a senior. Both Boulware and Wilson earned Consensus All-American honors in 1996.

Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel gets tackled by Florida State’s Reinard Wilson in a 24-21 victory for FSU over No. 1 Florida in 1996. (Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Wilson was selected 14th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1997 NFL Draft where he would spend six years. Wilson’s best season came in 2001 as he led the Bengals with nine sacks. Wilson finished his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003.

Wilson’s career sack record at Florida State has managed to stand for more than 20 years and hasn’t really been challenged. Wilson was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 2009.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson