The Men Behind the Numbers: Number 87, Lawrence Wilson

An injury plagued career equates to a classic tale of what could have been.

EAST LANSING, MI - OCTOBER 18: Lawrence Wilson #87 of the Ohio State Buckeyes catches a first quarter pass for a short gain on October 18, 2008 at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Michigan. Ohio State won the game 45-7. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

87 days until kickoff! That means it’s time for another edition of The Men Behind the Numbers.

Today, we head to the alma mater of one of the most famous athletes in modern history, LeBron James — Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

From the winter of 1999 through the spring of 2003, Akron, Ohio was the center of the high school basketball universe as LeBron’s legendary career captivated the nation. At the same time, another future Buckeye was making a name for himself on the football field: Lawrence Wilson.

To many casual fans, Wilson arrived at Ohio State as “a kid from LeBron’s high school.” In reality, he was much more than that. Wilson was the top-ranked defensive end in Ohio coming out of high school and a key member of a recruiting class that would far exceed expectations. That group included future Buckeye standouts Brian Robiskie, Brian Hartline, Malcolm Jenkins, and James Laurinaitis.