Education
Wootton chose Northwestern over Connecticut, Louisville and North Carolina
Wootton chose Northwestern over Connecticut, Louisville and North Carolina
He played college football at Northwestern University. As a junior, he garnered first team All-Big Ten Conference honors. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Born in Rutherford, New Jersey, Wootton played high school football at Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey.
State. During his Freshman season, Wootton got a medical hardship year for 2005 and only played in three of first four games before being sidelined the remainder of the year with a neck injury. At the end of the season, Wootton earned a Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American selection and was named to the Sporting News Freshman All-Big Ten team
In 2007, Wootton finished second on the team with 7.0 Tackles for loss and five pass deflections and second among defensive linemen with 39 tackles. Chicago Bears
Wootton entered the 2010 NFL Draft and was selected 109th overall in the 4th round by the Chicago Bears.
During a game against the Minnesota Vikings on December 20, 2010, Wootton recorded his first career sack where he brought down quarterback Brett Favre.
The sack forced Favre to leave the game due to a concussion. The concussion eventually sidelined Favre for the remaining two games of his final season in the NFL. In Week 9 of 2012 against the Tennessee Titans, Wootton scored his first career touchdown off a blocked punt, which had been blocked by former Northwestern teammate Sherrick McManis. Wootton ended the 2012 season appearing in all 16 games with seven starts and seven sacks.
In 2013, after injuries sustained to Henry Melton and Nate Collins, Wootton was shifted to defensive tackle in week five against the New Orleans Saints.
Minnesota Vikings
On March 20, 2014, it was reported Wootton had signed a one year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Detroit Lions
On May 14, 2015, Wootton signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.