Former NFL wide receiver and FAMU football star Robert Wilson died on Tuesday after complications with a stroke. He was 46.
Wilson began his stardom at Florida A&M in 1993, where he made great contributions to the success of the team. Wilson successively led the Rattlers to the MEAC championship in 1995 and 1996.
Wilson earned All-America honors in 1996 and was a three-time All-MEAC selection in 1994, 1995, and 1996, according to FAMU Athletics.
The Monticello native, from neighboring Jefferson County, caught 218 passes for 3,027 yards and 23 touchdowns at FAMU and was inducted into the FAMU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2016.
Vaughn Willson, former FAMU assistant athletic director, lamented losing such a humble star.
“It has not been a good year for several reasons, but on a personal note just knowing that this is the fourth [FAMU] Hall of Famer to pass this year is pretty tough,” he said.
Zoron Wade, FAMU linebacker, is also from Monticello. Hw says Wilson was a hometown hero because of his major contributions to his community.
“He tried hard to give student athletes in the community the skills to succeed with his tutoring systems and the camp he hosted a few years back,” he said. “He helped give players from Monticello like myself a great deal of hope and he showed us that it’s possible for us to make it out too.”
After his career at FAMU, Wilson played with the Seattle Seahawks and the New Orleans Saints. In total, Wilson played in the NFL for five years with 32 receptions for 431 yards.
Following his NFL career, Wilson returned to Tallahassee where his family and loved ones now lament his death.
Vaughn Wilson recalls Wilson’s lasting legacy and the success of his children.
“Robert left an amazing legacy,” Vaughn Wilson said. “I think what I will try to remember about Robert’s legacy is how successful all of his children have been. They went on to college athletics and they were great in high school. One is at Ohio State and one is at the University of Buffalo. He did a good job of bringing his children up to the level that he expected academically and with their athletics.”