Paducah Tilghman standout and 10-year NFL star George Wilson was honored as part of the 2022 class inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Wilson was a high school All-American football player, and all-state in basketball. He also lettered in baseball and track at Tilghman.
He played college football at the University of Arkansas before he was signed by the Detroit Lions in 2004. He was a longtime player for the Buffalo Bills, and played with the Tennessee Titans.
A wide receiver in high school and college, Wilson made the transition to strong safety in his 4th NFL season and had more than 500 career tackles. In his first pro start in 2007, he intercepted a Tony Romo pass for a touchdown against the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
Former Murray State wide receiver Reggie Swinton became the first Racer player to be inducted into the organization in the Hall's 19 classes.
Swinton competed for the Racers from 1994-97 where he was part of Ohio Valley Conference championships in 1995 and 1996. He was a big part of two of Murray State's most successful seasons under Houston Nutt with a 22-3 overall record and a 16-0 mark in OVC play. In 1996 Swinton was an All-America selection and All-OVC.
Signed as a free agent first by the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, Swinton went on to a pro career that spanned five seasons including stops with the Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals.
In 69 games, Swinton was known as one of the top kick returners in the game. In 2002 with the Cowboys, Swinton had a rare 100-yard kick-off return against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium in Philly. In 2003 at Soldier Field against the Chicago Bears, Swinton took a kickoff for 96 yards and another TD.
Wilson and Swinton were joined in the class of six by Randall Cobb (Green Bay Packers; University of Kentucky), Elbie Nickel (Pittsburgh Steelers; South Shore Ky.), Steve Ortmayer (Oakland Raiders; University of Kentucky), and Lee Calland (Pittsburgh Steelers; University of Louisville).
Photo courtesy of MSU Athletics.
