Kristian Wilkerson facts for kids

Kristian Wilkerson (born January 10, 1997) is an American professional football player. He plays as a wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Southeast Missouri State.

College Football Journey

Kristian Wilkerson played for the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks for five seasons. In his first year, he "redshirted," which means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to train and get stronger without using up a year of his playing eligibility.

As a senior, he had an amazing season. He caught 71 passes, gaining 1,350 yards and scoring 10 touchdowns. Because of his great performance, he was named first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference. He was also recognized as a second-team All-American by HERO Sports.

Wilkerson ended his college career holding several school records. He had 219 catches, 3,540 receiving yards, and 33 touchdowns. These records show how important he was to his college team.

Professional NFL Career

Kristian Wilkerson began his journey to the NFL in 2020. He was not chosen during the NFL draft, but he was signed by a team as an undrafted free agent. This means a team still wanted him to join, even though he wasn't drafted.

Time with the Tennessee Titans

On May 4, 2020, Wilkerson signed with the Tennessee Titans. However, he was waived (released) by the team on September 5, 2020, just before the regular season started.

Playing for the New England Patriots

After leaving the Titans, Wilkerson joined the New England Patriots' practice squad on September 8, 2020. Players on the practice squad train with the team but usually don't play in games unless needed.

He got his chance to play in an NFL game on November 9, 2020. He was moved to the Patriots' active roster for a game against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. After the game, he returned to the practice squad.

Wilkerson signed a new contract with the Patriots in January 2021. He was released in August but quickly re-signed to the practice squad. On January 2, 2022, he was called up again for a game against Jacksonville. In that game, he scored his first two NFL touchdowns, which was a big moment in his career. He signed another contract with the Patriots in January 2022.

In August 2022, Wilkerson was placed on injured reserve, meaning he couldn't play due to an injury. The Patriots later waived him in February 2023.

Short Stint with the Indianapolis Colts

On February 16, 2023, the Indianapolis Colts claimed Wilkerson. This meant they picked him up after he was waived by the Patriots. However, he was waived by the Colts a few months later, on May 2, 2023.

Joining the Las Vegas Raiders

Kristian Wilkerson signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on May 15, 2023. He was waived by the Raiders in November but re-signed to their practice squad shortly after. He signed a new contract with the Raiders in January 2024.

In August 2024, Wilkerson was waived by the Raiders again, but he quickly re-signed to their practice squad. He signed another reserve/future contract with the team in January 2025, showing his continued dedication to playing professional football.