Vince Wilfork

Infobox NFLactive


name=Vince Wilfork
width=
caption=Vince Wilfork at the Patriots 2008 Training Camp.
currentteam=New England Patriots
currentnumber=75
currentpositionplain=Defensive tackle
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|11|4
birthplace=Boynton Beach, Florida
country=USA
heightft=6
heightin=2
weight=325
debutyear=2004
debutteam=New England Patriots
highlights=
* Consensus All-Big East (2003)
* Super Bowl champion (XXXIX)
* Pro Bowl selection (2007)
* All-Pro selection (2007)
college=University of Miami
draftyear=2004
draftround=1
draftpick=21
pastteams=
* New England Patriots (2004–present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=194
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=5.5
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=0
nfl=WIL059369

Vincent Lamar Wilfork (born November 4, 1981 in Boynton Beach, Florida) is an American football player who plays at starting nose tackle for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He played collegiately at the University of Miami and was drafted by the Patriots in the first round (21st overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.

Early life

Wilfork attended Santaluces High School in Palm Beach County, Florida and was a letter winner in both football and track and field. In football, he won "USA Today"'s second team All-American honors. In track and field, he was the Florida Class 4A state champion in the shot put and the discus in 2000. [cite web | title=Results of 2000 Outdoor State Meet Class 4A | publisher=DyeStat Florida | date=May 13, 2000 | url=http://www.dyestat.com/rivals/200909.html] He also holds the Florida state high school record in the shot put with a throw of 68 feet. and this led back to the original star wars [cite web | title=Under the Helmet: Vince Wilfork| publisher=New England Patriots| date=December 14, 2007 | url=http://www.patriots.com/search/index.cfm?ac=searchdetail&pid=29624&pcid=41&rss=1]

College career

Wilfork attended the University of Miami and was a star in both football and track and field (shot put). In football, he finished his career with fourteen sacks, 148 tackles (37.5 for losses), five forced fumbles, and had three fumble recoveries. In track, he holds the Miami indoor school record in the shot put.

He majored in liberal arts.

Late in his college career, both of Wilfork's parents, Barbara and David Wilfork, died in their late forties of natural causes within a few months of each other.

NFL career

The Patriots drafted Wilfork with the 21st overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. In his rookie season with the Patriots, he compiled two sacks, 27 tackles, and three deflected passes. Wilfork saw considerable playing time during his rookie season, and helped the Patriots get back to the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles in February, 2005.

Wilfork had a career-high 91 tackles in 2005; however, the defending champions were eliminated in the second round of playoffs by the Denver Broncos. In the first round of the playoffs, New England, playing at home, defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 2006, Wilfork finished the season with 81 tackles. In the 2007 season, Wilfork notched 7 solo tackles and a big 8-yard sack of Ben Roethlisberger in Week 13 in a 34-13 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was also selected to the 2008 Pro Bowl.

Wilfork was fined a total of 4 times by the NFL in the 2007 season. In the third game of the season he was fined $12,500 by the NFL for his low, late hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman. [ [http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/09/26/vince-wilfork-expects-fine-for-j-p-losman-hit/ Vince Wilfork Expects Fine for J.P. Losman Hit - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog ] ] This was appealed to the NFL and reduced to $2,500. He was fined $5,000 for a 15-yard personal foul penalty. A face-mask penalty called in the AFC Championship Game against the San Diego Chargers, while attempting to tackle running back Michael Turner. And in a game on October 14, 2007 at Dallas Wilfork was fined $5,000 for drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct foul when he tangled with Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3215704 ESPN - Patriots' Wilfork fined $5,000 for face-mask infraction against Chargers - NFL ] ] In the last game of the regular 2007 season, Wilfork placed his finger in the facemask of New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs after a play in the second quarter. He was fined $15,000. [cite news | url = http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d805bd355&template=without-video&confirm=true | work = Associated Press via NFL | title = Patriots' Wilfork fined $15,000 for finger-poking incident against Giants | date = 2008-01-04 | accessdate = 2008-01-04 ] The move was seen by a national television audience but not the referees on the field.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.vincewilfork75.com Vince Wilfork Official Web Site] .