- Identify: Julius Wilkerson
- Place: LB
- School: Davenport College
- Peak: 6’1″
- Weight: 230
- Twitter: @JuliusWilkerso1
- Instagram: ju_juwilkerson
What makes you a prime prospect at your place within the 2024 NFL Draft?
I consider my management, intelligence, versatility, and work ethic make me one of many prime linebacker prospects within the 2024 NFL Draft. My present and former coaches, fellow gamers, and organizational employees can all attest to my talents. I perceive that being a frontrunner requires you to be personable, relate to others, and unify everybody towards a typical objective. Figuring out this has helped me command the protection from the center linebacker place. My intelligence on the sector provides me an edge as nicely as a result of it permits me to capitalize on my God-given capacity as an athlete in order that I’m in the proper place on the proper time. I additionally consider that I supply versatility as I’ve been and can proceed to line up in numerous positions and tackle duties not required of a typical linebacker. My work ethic is what enhances all of those traits as nicely. I perceive that to be an incredible participant I’ve to constantly develop these qualities; I’ve to learn the way I can enhance my management, improve my data of the sport, and turn into a extra versatile participant on the sector. That’s the reason I put in additional than what’s required of me so I can get to the place I must go.
At what age had been you first within the sport of soccer?
I used to be first taken with soccer at round 5 years previous. I bear in mind being in my dad’s workplace the place he had his previous soccer helmet on show. He would share tales of taking part in soccer abroad whereas within the Coast Guard. I distinctly bear in mind the completely different brand markings and battle scars that had been on the helmet and would put it on and fake to run routes. On the time, it made me really feel like a warrior and after I was carrying it I someway grew to become invincible. Later that yr, I had the chance to play soccer and be that warrior and I’ve by no means regarded again.
What’s one factor that NFL groups ought to find out about you?
I would love NFL groups to know that I’m a workforce participant decided to assist my workforce succeed. Not solely do I’ve excessive expectations for myself, but additionally maintain excessive expectations for these round me. In my expertise, I’ve discovered that the extra I’ve helped others succeed the higher I’ve turn into whether or not that be serving to teammates be taught the protection or staying later to assist different guys get some additional reps on ideas we discovered throughout follow. All these experiences have helped me and my teammates develop as gamers and helped me improve my data of each facet of the sport itself.
When you might donate to 1 trigger on the earth, what would it not be?
Although I’ve been blessed to have the ability to present substantial donations to organizations comparable to F.A.R.M., if I might donate to 1 trigger on the earth I might say the Downtown Boxing Health club in Detroit, MI. Their group supplies free educational and athletic applications to children in elementary by means of highschool within the Metro Detroit space and has a 100% highschool commencement price with their college students since first beginning. I’ve at all times beloved being a mentor to youthful college students and after I bought the chance to volunteer whereas at Wayne State, I bought to see firsthand their nice work and affect on the group. They honestly care in regards to the success of all the youngsters they work with and I plan on serving to them to advance their objectives sooner or later.
What’s the greatest recommendation you’ve ever obtained?
“Focus on the answer, not the issue” is likely one of the greatest items of recommendation I’ve ever obtained. I’ve not been capable of shake this instruction since I got here throughout it whereas studying a ebook in center faculty. This recommendation altered my perspective and inspired me to maintain a constructive mindset. I’ve come to be taught in case you’re at all times specializing in what’s fallacious or the obstacles in your approach, you’ll by no means have the ability to see what’s going proper or God’s guiding hand serving to you navigate your present circumstances.
Who was your childhood hero?
My childhood hero was positively my dad. He would always work lengthy hours at his jobs and do no matter it took to supply for my household. Though he may’ve been drained coming house from work or simply beat from the psychological toll the world placed on him day-after-day he nonetheless discovered the power to point out my siblings and I the love and care we would have liked.
Who’s probably the most underrated teammate in your locker room at your faculty?
I believe probably the most underrated teammate in my locker room proper now’s Myren Harris. He actually has the power to be a game-changer for any offense he’s in. The best way that he’s capable of dissect a protection and make performs from the working again place is actually spectacular. He’s probably the most versatile gamers I’ve performed with as nicely and the way in which that our coaches have already begun to make use of him in follow will certainly give defenses within the GLIAC a run for his or her cash.
What’s your largest pet peeve?
Truthfully, my largest pet peeve is when somebody wastes my time. I consider time is probably the most useful useful resource we’ve in our lives; it is available in a finite quantity and is one thing we are going to by no means get again. So when folks simply disregard or waste my time with no regret, it simply actually comes off as disrespectful to me.
Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the toughest second in your life to beat?
The toughest second in my life that I needed to overcome is emotions of self-doubt. Self-doubt is a psychological battle that I’ve needed to confront many occasions in my soccer profession. There have been a great quantity of nights the place I sat aimlessly trying over a playbook questioning if I really had what it took to be an incredible soccer participant. Fortunately, I’m blessed with an incredible assist system round me and the right psychological instruments to information myself out of those emotions of uncertainty. The psychological battles we face as gamers and individuals are a number of the most difficult as a result of there may be actually nowhere to go however by means of it. Each time I catch myself doubting my capacity, I pray and inform myself that God has positioned me right here for a motive and has given me the talents to capitalize upon the alternatives set earlier than me.
Inform me one thing about your faculty and why it’s so particular to you?
Davenport College is a small Division II faculty out in Caledonia, MI that performs within the Nice Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Convention. It’s a reasonably quiet place truthfully, situated round 20 minutes from downtown Grand Rapids. I’d say the factor that makes this college so particular are the folks, coaches, professors, and assist employees that assist our college run. The college listed here are kind-hearted and devoted people who try that will help you fulfill your objectives. Since transferring right here within the spring, everybody has taken me in with open arms and handled me like a part of the household.
What’s your favourite snack meals?
I attempt to be strict with my weight loss program, however my favourite snack is Goldfish. Each time there are some round, I can’t assist however sneak a couple of. At the same time as a child in elementary faculty, I discovered them so addictive. You give me any taste and it’s over with!
What’s the greatest a part of soccer?
The most effective a part of soccer is the psychological facet of the sport. It’s a problem to rapidly dissect the offense’s play whereas they’re additionally doing the whole lot attainable to mislead and cease you. I evaluate it to taking part in pace chess, however you’re the participant and the piece on the similar time. There’s nothing extra satisfying than having the ability to correctly predict what’s occurring on the sector and execute your sport plan.
When you might promote your self in a single sentence what would you say?
I’m dedicated to success and bettering myself and people round me and I’ve the work ethic and ambition to show so.
When you might evaluate your play to 1 participant within the NFL who would it not be?
I’d say I modeled my sport after Fred Warner. His intelligence, sideline-to-sideline quickness, and excessive motor are all issues I attempt to mimic.
When you might have dinner with three folks useless or alive, who would it not be and why?
If I might have dinner with three folks useless or alive I might select Moses, J Cole, and Eric Thomas. I simply consider these three males have been/are nice leaders of their respective areas. All of them have nice minds and would positively have the ability to train me extra about the right way to turn into the perfect individual I might be.
