Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2018 65 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE of a college education was taken off his mother's shoulders, and Wilkins made that official when he signed his National Letter of Intent with Notre Dame Dec. 20. "It's really exciting and really re- lieving," he said of his scholarship to Notre Dame. "I put a lot of time, countless hours during and after practice, for my entire life, and for that to all finally pay off, it means a lot." Wilkins has certainly earned that scholarship with his efforts on the field and in the classroom, but he's quick to heap credit on his mother for turning him into the man he is. "I don't think anybody could do what she's done," he said. "She's raised three kids [Woodley later gave birth to two twin girls], and we're all in advanced classes or AP classes and all have a GPA over 3.5." In fact, Wilkins has a 4.0 GPA and will graduate from North Fort Myers High School summa cum laude. Wilkins' accomplishments have been plenty. There are trophies and ribbons, athletic and academic, lining his shelves for the world to see. Because of an act of senseless vi- olence brought about by a quibble between friends, Joe Wilkins Sr. never got to see his son achieve these things, and Joe Wilkins Jr. never got to rush home from school or football practice and recount the day to his father. But amidst tragedy in the infancy of her life as a mother, Kristina Woodley gave birth to boy who be- came one the best football players in the country, and raised him the best way she knew how. Although he's tried a million dif- ferent times, Wilkins said there's no way he could ever put into words what his mother has meant to him these last 18 years. "She's literally done everything she can to raise a young man and a family by herself," he said. "It's hard to express it. I'm so, so thankful for her." ✦ JOSEPH WILKINS JR. CORNERBACK 6-2 · 180 NORTH FORT MYERS H.S. NORTH FORT MYERS, FLA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — — — ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 83* 82 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 45^ 81 * Ranked as a wide receiver; ^ ranked as an athlete STATISTICS • During his senior campaign, caught 34 passes for 616 yards and six touchdowns on offense, while adding 36 tackles, five passes broken up and two interceptions on defense. Led North Fort Myers to 9-1 record, the school's best mark since going 11-2 in 2006. • Caught 16 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns on offense, while adding 28 tackles and three interceptions on defense in just six games as a junior. HONORS • Finalist for The News Press 2017 Offensive Player of the Year. • 2017 The News Press All-Area first team. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in Rivals Three Stripe Camp in Miami on March 26, 2017. • Attended Nike Football's The Opening Re- gional in Miami on Feb. 26, 2017. Recorded a 4.32-second pro-shuttle and a 33.2-inch vertical jump. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Nov. 6, 2017, following his official visit for the Navy game on Nov. 18, 2017. • Chose the Irish over a list of six finalists that included Michigan State, North Carolina State, South Florida, Iowa State and Kentucky. • Notre Dame was his only official visit. • Primarily recruited by running backs coach Autry Denson and cornerbacks coach Todd Lyght. NOTABLE • Born on Jan. 22, 1999. • Boasts a 4.0 GPA and will graduate summa cum laude. • Played high school football under former Florida Gator and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham. • Also plays basketball at North Fort Myers. 2018 PROJECTION • Notre Dame is loaded at cornerback for 2018 so the best chance for Wilkins to earn playing time is on special teams. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "Joe Wilkins was an outstanding receiver. So yeah, there's the pos- sibility there." Cornerbacks coach Todd Lyght: "He's a really, really smart kid. I love the way he competes on both sides of the ball. I think his length and his ball skills can really make him an outstanding boundary corner." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Wilkins is a solid all-around cornerback with a lot of upside. He lacks any elite or special traits, but his game also lacks any discernible weaknesses. That well- rounded skill set makes him a highly effective player, and he still has plenty of room to develop. The first trait that jumps out for Wilkins is his length. He isn't a burner, but he gets to full speed in a hurry and has loose hips, which help him quickly open up and run. "Wilkins is a smooth athlete with good body control. He possesses quick feet and is physical for a skinny player. Once he adds more weight and strength he'll be a legitimate player in the run game. He's a smart player that stays under control, doesn't overreact to receiver moves and makes good reads on the ball." Wilkins was a two-way standout at North Fort Myers, but will focus on defense at Notre Dame. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM "It's really exciting and really relieving. I put a lot of time, countless hours during and after practice, for my entire life, and for that to all finally pay off, it means a lot." WILKINS ON HIS SCHOLARSHIP TO NOTRE DAME