WHEELING, W.Va. — The stock has continued to rise for Wheeling Park quarterback Cross Wilkinson heading into the 2016 season.
The junior led the Patriots to a first Class AAA state championship in 2015, throwing for 2,249 yards, 27 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
“Last year was a blast—I still watch the highlights and get chills,” Wilkinson said. “We have a brotherhood here and it was great to have a season like that.”
Wilkinson will be relied upon even more in 2016 as the Patriots lose weapons like Elijah Bell and Savion Johnson.
“I’m definitely going to have to be even more mature this year,” Wilkinson said. “I’m going to have to take these guys under my wing and keep learning myself too. I just need to keep maturing and be more of a leader this year.”
It’s that mindset and maturity, in-part, that have helped Wilkinson already land scholarship offers from Marshall and Toledo. He also has interest from UCLA, Wake Forest, Yale, Cornell, Florida, Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio and Pitt.
“I think it’s a good sign when you work out three times and get two scholarship offers out of those three workouts, and he hasn’t even gone into his junior year,” said Wheeling Park coach Chris Daugherty. “I think the sky is the limit for him.
“We’ve had everybody from UCLA at school to Kentucky, Florida and Wake Forest asking him to come throw. His name is out there. What it ends up, I don’t know. The two schools that have offered (so far) are very good football schools and would be good places to be.”
Wilkinson’s stature has continued to develop as he stands in at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds.
“I’ve been working on speed and agility with my speed coach and going through the strength and conditioning program at Wheeling Park, which is awesome,” Wilkinson said. “All of our coaches have been getting me ready and it’s been big for me mentally. I know we have a lot of young guys and it’s a learning process, even with me. I’ve been working hard, but it’s been a lot of fun.”
As Wheeling Park prepares to defend its state title, Wilkinson seems to be in no rush to set a recruiting timetable.
“It’s been pretty cool to see the interest from all of those schools,” Wilkinson said. “I’m waiting out the process. I’ll hopefully get some more offers and then weigh my options. But I’m going to wait a little bit before making a decision.”