As New England Patriots WR Kristian Wilkerson makes his appearance of the 2021 season and the fourth of his career, this unknown receiver could be set to rejuvenate the Patriots’ offense. Who is Kristian Wilkerson, how has his NFL career gone so far, and where did he go to college?
Kristian Wilkerson was a star in the FCS
It is not a surprise that Wilkerson was an unknown commodity heading into Week 1 of the 2021 NFL preseason. He has never really been in the limelight during his football career.
Wilkerson’s college career consisted of five years with the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks. Even the most ardent of college football supporters might be scratching their head at that name. The Redhawks are a Division I FCS team and member of the Ohio Valley Conference. However, they have never made a big splash in the FCS playoffs, playing just four postseason games and never making it past the second round.
Wilkerson impressed in his senior season in 2019. He caught 71 passes for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those numbers saw him named first-team All-OVC and helped the Redhawks win the conference championship. He finished his college career with school-record numbers for receptions (219), receiving yards (3,540), and touchdowns (33).
A rocky start to his NFL career
Unfortunately, Wilkerson went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Tennessee Titans. Yet, with no preseason in 2020, Wilkerson’s opportunities to showcase his talents were limited. That resulted in him being waived during final roster cuts.
Wilkerson spent 2020 with the Patriots
After the Titans waived Wilkerson, the Patriots signed him to their practice squad. He stayed on the practice squad throughout September before being elevated to the active roster on November 9.
Wilkerson made his NFL debut that same day. During the Patriots’ Monday Night Football game against the Jets, he played two offensive snaps but did not register a target. Wilkerson then moved back to the practice squad, where he remained for the rest of the season.