Marcellus Wiley got good news this year when they learned that he had been voted by their peers, the NFL coaches and the fans to play in the 2002 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Chargers made one of the biggest splashes in the 2001 NFL free agency pool when they landed former Buffalo Bills defensive end Marcellus Wiley.

In Wiley, the Chargers secured one of the NFL's top young defensive ends. He's coming off a career season in which he led the Bills with 10.5 sacks and his 104 tackles were fourth-highest on the squad.

It was no surprise when John Butler took over as general manager of the Chargers, he made it a priority to sign Wiley, a player whom he had drafted when he was with the Bills. Butler believes Wiley has untapped potential after spending four seasons learning the position from future Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.

Coming out of high school in Los Angeles, Wiley surprised people when he decided to attend the Ivy League's Columbia University in New York, spurning interest from Pac-10 schools UCLA and Cal-Berkeley. Wiley helped deliver a winner to a school that suffered through a 44-game losing streak in the mid-1980s. In his senior season, he led the Lions to an 8-2 record, the school's best since 1945.

Wiley, who was one of the Bills most active participants in the community, is a big fan of the musical group OutKast. He recently told a national magazine writer that when he retires from the NFL, one of his dreams is to buy a Winnebago, get a leather jacket with sketches of the band's members airbrushed on the back and follow the musicians around the country.

2000: Led Bills with career-high 10.5 sacks and ranked fourth on team with career-best 104 tackles...became fourth Buffalo player in team history to record more than 10 sacks in one season, joining Bruce Smith (12 times), Bryce Paup (once) and Phil Hansen (once)...added 23 quarterback pressures, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery...started 15 games while playing in all 16...recorded two sacks at San Diego Oct. 15...delivered two sacks at Kansas City Nov. 19, added two more at Tampa Bay Nov. 26 and 1.5 versus Miami Dec. 3, becoming first Buffalo player with three consecutive multi-sack games since Bruce Smith in 1996...racked up career-high 17 tackles against New England Dec. 17.

1999: Played in all 16 games and earned one start...notched 43 tackles, five sacks, first career interception and 22 quarterback pressures...collected season-high seven tackles at Seattle Oct. 24...had his biggest play of season versus New York Giants Dec. 12 when he picked off deflected Kerry Collins pass and returned it 52 yards to set up Bills touchdown early in fourth quarter...earned lone start of season Jan. 2, 2000, replacing injured Phil Hansen against Indianapolis.

1998: Enjoyed solid campaign with 45 tackles and four sacks...ranked second on team with 27 quarterback pressures...played in all 16 contests with three starts...started season opener at San Diego in place of injured Bruce Smith and recorded then-career high 10 tackles...registered first career sack against San Francisco's Steve Young Oct. 4...recorded second and third career sacks against New England Nov. 29 and Cincinnati Dec. 6...started in place of Phil Hansen in regular season finale at New Orleans Dec. 27 and recorded one sack...made first career playoff appearance, again starting for Hansen in Wild Card contest at Miami Jan. 2, 1999, responding with postseason career-high 11 tackles and one sack.

1997: Saw action in all 16 games as reserve defensive lineman and on special teams ...finished season with 24 tackles...had season-high five tackles twice against Patriots, at New England Oct. 12 and versus New England Nov. 9...had kickoff return for 12 yards on short kick at Miami Nov. 17...forced first career fumble with hit on Curtis Martin versus New England Nov. 9...had fumble recovery in season finale at Green Bay Dec. 20 and returned it 40 yards to set up touchdown...entered NFL as Bills second-round pick and was 52nd player chosen overall in 1997 draft.