He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft.

Lawson attended Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Super Prep rated Lawson as one of the Top 25 players (#21) in the state of North Carolina during his senior year.

Lawson competed on the track & field squad during the winter and spring, winning the ACC title in the indoor long jump with a mark of 7.40 meters (24'3").

He ranked third on the team with a dozen stops for losses of 74 yards and second with sixteen quarterback pressures.

He deflected four passes and blocked a punt in his first season as a starter, lining up at right defensive end in every game.

In 2005, Lawson made All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report.

[4] Although Lawson played defensive end in college, the 49ers felt that he had the athletic ability to change position to linebacker.

He had several good QB pressures but mainly was noted for his excellent coverage play, keeping both teams' tight ends fairly non-existent in the offense and letting the rest of the defense focus on stopping those teams' excellent wide receiver duos.

Lawson tore his ACL during a practice preparing for a week 3 games against Pittsburgh, ending his season.

[8] In 2016, Lawson was suspended one game for a violation of the league's personal conduct policy due to a domestic situation during the 2015 season, and he appealed the suspension.