Kevin Wilkins: The Force In The Trenches
Sep 04 | Football
The key to any good football team is in the trenches. Play along the offensive and defensive lines is crucial to success in every game. This season, the Scarlet Knights will be bolstered by a dynamic force at defensive end, as Kevin Wilkins enters his senior season destined for greatness.
A highly productive player as a youth, Wilkins actually had a former Rutgers great as a mentor growing up. He struck up a bond with three-time Rutgers captain Darius Hamilton when he was young, and the two went on to play together at Don Bosco Prep.
"I actually played offensive line back then, so I went against him every day in practice," Wilkins explained. "I knew him previously because my brother went to Bosco as well, so I have been around him since I was nine or ten years old, so we grew up together. He taught me a lot about work ethic. From an early age in high school, he was always going to the wall 24/7 and when he came here he was a high motor guy that made a lot of plays. I try to mimic him in that, and also (former Scarlet Knight) Sebastian Joseph as well."
That bond between the two remains strong today. Hamilton recently visited a training camp practice and was beaming with pride over the progression that Wilkins had made.
"It has been amazing to see him out there in practice, he really seems to be stepping into a big leadership role," Hamilton said. "It is really great to see. Kevin was somebody who always had the talent, he just needed to push himself a little bit mentally and do what you got to do. When I was out there, it looks like he is really coming into his own, it really makes me proud."
Growing up in New Jersey, Wilkins always felt a strong connection to the state university. The ability to play Big Ten football close to family was appealing to the Mahwah native.
"I am a Jersey guy. I have always said that if you are a Jersey guy, I feel like you should stay home and play in your state," Wilkins declared. "I am a Jersey guy, and I felt the need that I definitely should stay here. At the time I was being recruited, I had recently connected with, in my sophomore year of high school, my biological mother, so that played a big part in me staying home. Being able to have my family able to drive just 45 minutes to come watch me play has been great."
Having been adopted as a youth, family was always important to Wilkins, and he enjoys knowing that they are able to watch him play locally. It was through reconnecting with his biological mother that he learned that he is actually cousins with Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott.
"His dad actually went to Hackensack High School with my mom," Wilkins explained. "I talk to him from time to time and get advice, but most of the time the two of us are focused on our seasons."
Off the field, Wilkins has a unique passion. He can often be found at a local river with a fishing pole in his hand.
"I like to fish a lot," Wilkins said. "I got adopted in Sparta, New Jersey, and Sussex county is very country-like. My house was only a couple of blocks from the lake. I used to go fishing with my dad all the time, so that is one thing I continue to do. My fishing poles have been in my car during training camp, if we get a long enough break, I try to go fishing."
Wilkins often has teammates join him out on the water. Travis Vokolek, Jim Onulak and Matthew Sportelli have all been known to pick up their poles and join Wilkins on the Raritan. But the most competitive that Wilkins gets is when he goes fishing with head strength coach Kenny Parker.
"Listen, I think I am the best fisherman," Wilkins declared. "But coach Parker will not agree because he has beaten me twice already. However, I lost a lot of fish both times so we did not count them. So he will tell you that he is better. But in fact, I am better because I actually caught more, he just brings them in better. Half of them just fall off for me as I go to grab them."
A former nose tackle at the beginning of his career, Wilkins has settled in as Rutgers' top defensive end, bringing 76 career tackles (12 for loss) into this season. The coaching staff is counting on his talents and leadership as a veteran member among that defensive line group.
"He's definitely a versatile guy, he does have athletic man size, he does give us the capability to use him in different ways," defensive line coach Corey Brown explained. "That is going to help us for the season, as well as his leadership. He has working hard at that and the young guys in that room look up to him."
Going into his final season 'On the Banks,' Wilkins is excited to display his talents in Piscataway for the last go-around. When the lights come on, No. 99 will be the one to watch doing his thing in the trenches.
A highly productive player as a youth, Wilkins actually had a former Rutgers great as a mentor growing up. He struck up a bond with three-time Rutgers captain Darius Hamilton when he was young, and the two went on to play together at Don Bosco Prep.
"I actually played offensive line back then, so I went against him every day in practice," Wilkins explained. "I knew him previously because my brother went to Bosco as well, so I have been around him since I was nine or ten years old, so we grew up together. He taught me a lot about work ethic. From an early age in high school, he was always going to the wall 24/7 and when he came here he was a high motor guy that made a lot of plays. I try to mimic him in that, and also (former Scarlet Knight) Sebastian Joseph as well."
That bond between the two remains strong today. Hamilton recently visited a training camp practice and was beaming with pride over the progression that Wilkins had made.
"It has been amazing to see him out there in practice, he really seems to be stepping into a big leadership role," Hamilton said. "It is really great to see. Kevin was somebody who always had the talent, he just needed to push himself a little bit mentally and do what you got to do. When I was out there, it looks like he is really coming into his own, it really makes me proud."
Growing up in New Jersey, Wilkins always felt a strong connection to the state university. The ability to play Big Ten football close to family was appealing to the Mahwah native.
"I am a Jersey guy. I have always said that if you are a Jersey guy, I feel like you should stay home and play in your state," Wilkins declared. "I am a Jersey guy, and I felt the need that I definitely should stay here. At the time I was being recruited, I had recently connected with, in my sophomore year of high school, my biological mother, so that played a big part in me staying home. Being able to have my family able to drive just 45 minutes to come watch me play has been great."
Having been adopted as a youth, family was always important to Wilkins, and he enjoys knowing that they are able to watch him play locally. It was through reconnecting with his biological mother that he learned that he is actually cousins with Dallas Cowboys star running back Ezekiel Elliott.
"His dad actually went to Hackensack High School with my mom," Wilkins explained. "I talk to him from time to time and get advice, but most of the time the two of us are focused on our seasons."
Off the field, Wilkins has a unique passion. He can often be found at a local river with a fishing pole in his hand.
"I like to fish a lot," Wilkins said. "I got adopted in Sparta, New Jersey, and Sussex county is very country-like. My house was only a couple of blocks from the lake. I used to go fishing with my dad all the time, so that is one thing I continue to do. My fishing poles have been in my car during training camp, if we get a long enough break, I try to go fishing."
Wilkins often has teammates join him out on the water. Travis Vokolek, Jim Onulak and Matthew Sportelli have all been known to pick up their poles and join Wilkins on the Raritan. But the most competitive that Wilkins gets is when he goes fishing with head strength coach Kenny Parker.
"Listen, I think I am the best fisherman," Wilkins declared. "But coach Parker will not agree because he has beaten me twice already. However, I lost a lot of fish both times so we did not count them. So he will tell you that he is better. But in fact, I am better because I actually caught more, he just brings them in better. Half of them just fall off for me as I go to grab them."
A former nose tackle at the beginning of his career, Wilkins has settled in as Rutgers' top defensive end, bringing 76 career tackles (12 for loss) into this season. The coaching staff is counting on his talents and leadership as a veteran member among that defensive line group.
"He's definitely a versatile guy, he does have athletic man size, he does give us the capability to use him in different ways," defensive line coach Corey Brown explained. "That is going to help us for the season, as well as his leadership. He has working hard at that and the young guys in that room look up to him."
Going into his final season 'On the Banks,' Wilkins is excited to display his talents in Piscataway for the last go-around. When the lights come on, No. 99 will be the one to watch doing his thing in the trenches.
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