Ex-FSU standout Johnny Wilson turns heads in Eagles preseason opener

Is Johnny Wilson primed for a breakout season in 2025? It could happen.

There hasn't been much said about Wilson in Philadelphia Eagles camp so far, which was a little concerning. But once the bright lights came out, the Wilson that we remember from his time at FSU showed up and showed out Thursday in preseason action against the Bengals.

The 6-foot-6 pass catcher was drafted in the sixth round by the Eagles. He appeared in 16 games last season, mostly on special teams, and finished with five receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Philadelphia was a deep team last year and the Eagles' dominance in Super Bowl LIX further illustrated that, so Wilson had to fight for a role on the team in any form. But now in year two, Wilson is trying to establish himself as a regular in the wide receiver rotation.

​Wilson isn't a burner by NFL standards, but he's a big target and needs to play as such. Last night he showed a glimpse of what he is capable of when he uses his size. 

"It's been a long time since I've been able to make plays like that, and, you know, it felt good," Wilson said in his post-game interview. "I'm just trying to take advantage of every opportunity I get. You want to win games, you want to do the best every play you can." 

Wilson came to FSU as a transfer in 2022 after two lackluster seasons at Arizona State. Right away, he became the top wide receiver in the room and led the Seminoles with 43 catches for 897 yards (an amazing 20.9 yards per catch) and five touchdowns for a 10-3 team that won the Cheez-It Bowl.

His numbers took a slight step back in 2023, lining across from future second-round pick Keon Coleman. Wilson still had a solid season with 41 catches, 617 yards and two touchdowns to help the Seminoles go 13-1 and win the program's first ACC title since 2014.

Wilson was a big part of the Seminoles' two-year resurgence and over that stretch he showed the ability to take over games. Now that he's starting to show that to the Eagles, it's a good sign for his NFL future.