|
|
|
Mississippi Scout
Posted Aug 23, 2007
|
|
The 6-4, 220-pound quarterback from Orlando, FL surprised many when
he choose the Rebels over one of his home state colleges in Miami and many more
of the top programs around the country who had offered in Georgia Tech, Colorado,
Nebraska, Oregon, Wisconsin, Arizona State, and many more.
|
"I hear
it all of the time from some people back home," added Chris Wilkes. "I
just wanted to be in a college town. I visited Athens and liked Georgia, and I
heard Ole Miss was a very similar town. If it is anything like Athens, I will
love it."
There was also another big attraction that the Rebels presented.
"I
wanted a chance to play my freshman year. I will be behind a couple of the other
guys who are in the system right now, but I feel like I can beat out who ever
I have to. I could have gone to a bigger school like Miami, but the SEC is the
best conference in the country."
Although Chris has yet to visit the
Oxford campus, he has plans to attend a game at Ole Miss against another home
state university.
"Me and Coach Werner talked about my official visit,
and I am going to take it for the Florida game. That is also my bye week, so it
fits perfectly. There will probably not be a bigger game or crowd all year than
that one. I just can not wait to get over there and see what it is all about.
I have heard so much about their campus and facilities."
There is
also one more thing that Chris has heard about Ole Miss.
"I hear they
have the best looking girls in the country (laugh). That never hurts."
Although
Chris is solid with his commitment, he continues to hear from competing schools.
"They
have not stopped. I am still hearing from the schools who offered me all of the
time. They were texting me until the NCAA took that away, so they just pretty
much email me everyday now. Miami, Georgia Tech, Colorado, Oregon, just pretty
much the same ones who offered me, are still on me real hard. But I am solid with
my commitment, and I am not one of those guys who goes back on their word. I wanted
to get this over with before my season started so I could stay focused. I just
tell them that I appreciate their interest, but I am going to Ole Miss."
As
a junior at Dr. Phillips High School, Wilkes threw for 1,600 yards and 18 TDs
in leading his squad to the second round of the Florida 6-A playoffs. For his
efforts, he was named All-District and All-Central Florida.
He is looking
for an even bigger senior season.
"Going into my senior season, I
feel I am fine, but I can always get better. We were a run dominated offense last
year, but I think we are going to open it up a little more. We are starting to
pull together as a team. If we can stay as one, we can not be stopped."
What
are his personal goals for his senior campaign?
"I want to get stronger
and faster. I can throw the deep ball as good as anyone, but I need to work on
my short reads and getting the ball more to our two playmakers, our two running
backs. I am working with two running backs that are as good as anyone in the state.
They make things happen with their legs. We are going to put them more in the
slot and make things happen in open spaces for them."
If Chris were
to describe his game; what would it be?
"They have me labeled as a
duel threat, but I am not that fast. I can stand tall in the pocket and throw
it down field, but I do have good enough feet to get out of the pocket and avoid
the pressure. I am balanced. I can throw and run, but I am more of a true pocket
passer than anything else."
Watch Video
|