TEMPE, Ariz. — Former Florida cornerback Marco Wilson, whose choice to throw the cleat of an LSU participant late in a December sport led to the Tigers kicking the game-winning subject purpose, was taken within the fourth spherical of the NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday.
The Cardinals, who have been with no third- or fourth-round decide this 12 months, traded with the Baltimore Ravens to maneuver up into the fourth spherical to take Wilson.
Wilson threw the shoe after tackling LSU’s Kole Taylor to get a cease on third down. The shoe got here off Taylor in Wilson’s hand and Wilson chucked it in celebration. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, which saved LSU’s drive alive and led to the Tigers kicking a game-winning subject purpose with 23 seconds left.
Wilson stated that incident gave him a lesson in self-control, which he plans on taking with him into the NFL.
“You simply acquired to simply be in command of your feelings always and simply ensure you’re simply doing the best issues,” he stated. “However, additionally, simply realized that foolish errors like that may have an effect on not solely simply you however lots of people round you, so that you simply acquired to steer clear of doing issues like that.”
Cardinals common supervisor Steve Keim stated he’s assured Wilson has realized from his mistake and “realizes he is acquired to maintain his feelings in examine.”
“I believe he is a man that may study from the teachings and he actually understands defensive coverages and the schemes,” Keim stated. “The power to play in and out, he is a scholar of the sport and he, to me, is a man who actually did not get the credit score he deserves. I believe he performed higher than folks suppose. Typically it may be powerful in that convention, clearly matching up in opposition to the those that he did. However once you take a look at his talent set and the issues that he can do and then you definately throw in [defensive coordinator] Vance [Joseph] and [cornerbacks coach] Greg [Williams] and a few of the folks right here that I believe can proceed to develop him., I believe he is acquired a brilliant future.”
Wilson felt he ought to’ve been drafted increased than the fourth spherical, however stated his harm historical past could have performed a job in him being a third-day decide. He tore his proper ACL in highschool after which his left ACL throughout his sophomore season at Florida.
Wilson skilled for the mix at EXOS in Phoenix, so he has a familiarity with the world.
“I actually appreciated it on the market,” he stated. “I loved it quite a bit, and, man, it was an incredible setting on the market. So, I am blissful to be going again there.”
Wilson, who hopes to depend on his expertise of beginning as a freshman for the Gators throughout his rookie season with the Cardinals, will be part of a cornerback room that was in want of depth, particularly for the longer term. The Cardinals’ projected exterior corners this 12 months are Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford, who has but to play a down for the Cardinals due to accidents since he initially signed with them in 2019. Each are on one-year contracts. Alford was minimize after two years into his three-year deal after which re-signed on a one-year contract. Arizona’s beginning nickel nook is Byron Murphy, who’s coming into his third season.
Wilson stated he was conscious of Arizona’s state of affairs at his place.
“I do know that they are in want of cornerbacks,” Wilson stated. “I do know there’s lots of guys who’re there already which are very gifted and older guys who’ve lots of expertise, and I really feel like I might are available and make an affect and whereas doing that, study quite a bit from these guys who’re already there.”
The Cardinals obtained the Ravens’ fourth-round decide (No. 136 general) and their sixth-round decide (No. 210) in trade for Arizona’s fifth-round decide (No. 160) and a 2022 fourth-round decide.