Photo by: SFA Athletics
Wilkerson to Play in 94th East-West Shrine Game
12/28/2018 2:07:00 PM | Football
Lumberjack long snapper to represent SFA football in prestigious senior all-star game in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Jan. 19
TAMPA, Fla. – The SFA football team will be represented at the 94th East-West Shrine Game® this January as Lumberjack long snapper Chris Wilkerson has accepted an invitation to play in the prestigious all-star game. Held Saturday, Jan. 19 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, the annual collegiate all-star game will kick off at 3 p.m. EST and be broadcast live on the NFL Network and the East-West Shrine Game Radio Network.
An invitation to take part in the annual East-West Shrine Game is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best collegiate football all-stars in the country to showcase their talents in front of top representatives from NFL teams. A strong performance in the game greatly impacts a player's chances of a career in the NFL. Many of professional football's most recognized and decorated players, including Tom Brady, Brett Favre and John Elway, played in the East-West Shrine Game.
More than 100 players from last year's East-West Shrine Game signed with professional teams this past spring, and more than 70 made the final cut on NFL rosters. On average, more than 300 East-West Shrine Game alumni are on NFL rosters each year. Since the game's inception, 77 former players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and more than 200 former players have been named to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Wilkerson, a true NFL prospect who earned his bachelor's degree last May, has served as SFA's starting long snapper the past three seasons. The Waller, Texas, native appeared in each of the Lumberjacks' 32 games over the last three years, providing reliable snaps on punts, field goals and extra points while playing in a total of 42 games over the past four seasons. In 2017, Wilkerson claimed a tackle in punt coverage during SFA's thrilling 37-31 home victory of the University of the Incarnate Word and recovered a fumble in the 34-7 road rout of Lamar. This past fall, he assisted on a tackle as the 'Jacks blew out Houston Baptist 42-14 on the road.
Named preseason All-America First Team by both STATS FCS and Phil Steele FCS Magazine, Wilkerson is the second Lumberjack to accept an invitation to one of the nation's premier collegiate all-star games in as many years. Current NFL Ram defensive end John Franklin-Myers, who was drafted in the fourth round and 135th overall by Los Angeles, played in the 2018 National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Collegiate Bowl.
"The most important element of East-West Shrine Game has always been supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children," said East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Harold Richardson. "But during game week, it also affords our players an unmatched opportunity to showcase their talents and get their first taste of a potential career in the NFL."
While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, an international pediatric specialty health care system that treats children in orthopaedics, spinal cord injuries, cleft lift and palate, and burns, regardless of the families' ability to pay.
Longtime SFA equipment and facilities director Greg "Buck" Payne, a two-time Knight-Pickard Athletic Equipment Award recipient, volunteers his services each January helping out with the East-West Shrine Game.
East-West Shrine Game tickets are available for purchase through all tickets.com outlets. Game tickets are $15 general admission seating (price does not include service fees).
For more information about the 94th East-West Shrine Game®, visit ShrineGame.com. To continue to help more than 1.3 million children reach their potential and lead more fulfilling lives, click here.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children, please visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the offseason.
-SFA-
An invitation to take part in the annual East-West Shrine Game is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the best collegiate football all-stars in the country to showcase their talents in front of top representatives from NFL teams. A strong performance in the game greatly impacts a player's chances of a career in the NFL. Many of professional football's most recognized and decorated players, including Tom Brady, Brett Favre and John Elway, played in the East-West Shrine Game.
More than 100 players from last year's East-West Shrine Game signed with professional teams this past spring, and more than 70 made the final cut on NFL rosters. On average, more than 300 East-West Shrine Game alumni are on NFL rosters each year. Since the game's inception, 77 former players have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and more than 200 former players have been named to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Wilkerson, a true NFL prospect who earned his bachelor's degree last May, has served as SFA's starting long snapper the past three seasons. The Waller, Texas, native appeared in each of the Lumberjacks' 32 games over the last three years, providing reliable snaps on punts, field goals and extra points while playing in a total of 42 games over the past four seasons. In 2017, Wilkerson claimed a tackle in punt coverage during SFA's thrilling 37-31 home victory of the University of the Incarnate Word and recovered a fumble in the 34-7 road rout of Lamar. This past fall, he assisted on a tackle as the 'Jacks blew out Houston Baptist 42-14 on the road.
Named preseason All-America First Team by both STATS FCS and Phil Steele FCS Magazine, Wilkerson is the second Lumberjack to accept an invitation to one of the nation's premier collegiate all-star games in as many years. Current NFL Ram defensive end John Franklin-Myers, who was drafted in the fourth round and 135th overall by Los Angeles, played in the 2018 National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Collegiate Bowl.
"The most important element of East-West Shrine Game has always been supporting Shriners Hospitals for Children," said East-West Shrine Game Executive Director Harold Richardson. "But during game week, it also affords our players an unmatched opportunity to showcase their talents and get their first taste of a potential career in the NFL."
While the teams are divided by East and West, the players come together for the beneficiary of the event, Shriners Hospitals for Children®, an international pediatric specialty health care system that treats children in orthopaedics, spinal cord injuries, cleft lift and palate, and burns, regardless of the families' ability to pay.
Longtime SFA equipment and facilities director Greg "Buck" Payne, a two-time Knight-Pickard Athletic Equipment Award recipient, volunteers his services each January helping out with the East-West Shrine Game.
East-West Shrine Game tickets are available for purchase through all tickets.com outlets. Game tickets are $15 general admission seating (price does not include service fees).
For more information about the 94th East-West Shrine Game®, visit ShrineGame.com. To continue to help more than 1.3 million children reach their potential and lead more fulfilling lives, click here.
About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is changing lives every day through innovative pediatric specialty care, world-class research and outstanding medical education. The 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico provide advanced care for children with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and relies on the generosity of donors. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. To learn more about Shriners Hospitals for Children, please visit shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the offseason.
-SFA-
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