Terrence Wilkins facts for kids

Terrence Olondo Wilkins (born July 29, 1975) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver and a return specialist. This means he caught passes and ran back kicks or punts.

Terrence played for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL). He also spent time with the St. Louis Rams. In 2004, he was briefly with the Miami Dolphins. He also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the Calgary Stampeders in 2005.

He gained 1,466 receiving yards during his time with the Colts. Terrence was also part of the team that won Super Bowl XLI in 2006. They beat the Chicago Bears in that big game.

Terrence Wilkins went to Bishop Denis J. O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia. He graduated from there in 1994. Before that, he attended St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia.

Playing Football in College

Terrence Wilkins played college football at the University of Virginia. When he first started, he was a backup running back. Later, he changed his position to wide receiver.

Excelling as a Wide Receiver

Even though he was not very tall, Terrence was great at his new role. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 180 pounds. Over three seasons, he caught 97 passes for 1,495 yards. This was the fifth-highest in his school's history. He also scored 5 touchdowns.

He was also a key player on special teams. He gained 1,155 yards returning kicks and punts. In his final year, Terrence led his team with 45 catches. He gained 811 yards that season, averaging 18 yards per catch.

Playing Football Professionally

After college, Terrence Wilkins was not chosen in the NFL draft. However, the Colts signed him as a free agent in 1999. This means they offered him a contract even though he wasn't drafted.

Starting His NFL Journey

He became the Colts' main player for returning kickoffs and punts. Soon, he also became a starting player on offense. He finished his first year as the third-best receiver on the team. He gained a total of 2,089 yards that season.

This was a record for an undrafted rookie. He was also one of only six rookies ever to gain more than 2,000 yards. Terrence played two more years with the Colts. Then, he was traded to the St. Louis Rams.

Returning to the Colts and Super Bowl Win

After playing with the Rams, he returned to the Colts in 2003. He then spent some time away from the NFL. In 2004, he was briefly on the Miami Dolphins roster.

Terrence rejoined the Colts in 2006 when he was 31 years old. That year, he had his best season for kickoff returns. He gained 1,297 yards, which was the 9th most in the NFL. He also gained 411 total return yards in the Colts' four playoff games.

In Super Bowl XLI, the Colts won 29-17. Terrence returned 4 kickoffs for 89 yards. He also returned 3 punts for 42 yards. This Super Bowl game turned out to be his last NFL game.

Career Statistics

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• Terrence Wilkins' Biography