Player Profile – Vince Wilfork

Name – Vincent Lamar Wilfork

Position – Defensive Tackle

Team – New England Patriots

Height – 6 foot 2 inches

Age – 30

College – University of Miami

Drafted – 21st overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.

Vince Wilfork is your quintessential trench warrior. Having had one year of starting experience for the Miami Hurricanes, Wilfork left college early and was taken in the first round despite some college commentators saying he was better off going back to school. In his first year in the NFL, he saw considerable playing time and was a starter in the Patriots Super Bowl XXXIX victory over the Eagles.

As his career progressed, Wilfork began to get a reputation as a dirty player as the league began cracking down on foul play. He was fined four times in the 2007 season and nearly suspended in 2008 before meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell who granted him one more chance. Since that meeting, Wilfork has never been considered for suspension once.

Wilfork is now a four-time Pro Bowler and is also a four-time second-team All-Pro — he received both honors in the same year all four times. After the 2009 season and some contract disputes, he was paid like one when he was re-signed to the Patriots. He is now regarded as one of the most elite nose/defensive tackles in the NFL and on Sunday will be playing in his third Super Bowl.

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