Courtesy of Wayne State Athletic Communications
DETROIT -- Wayne State University redshirt senior middle linebacker Julius Wilkerson (Mequon, Wis.) has been selected as the 2022 recipient of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's (GLIAC) Jack H. McAvoy Award, which is presented annually to a GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
The award is named for former Hillsdale College director of athletics and head football coach, Jack McAvoy, who was instrumental in the founding of the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), now known as the GLIAC.
Wilkerson becomes the fourth Wayne State player to receive this coveted award and makes it back-to-back recipients as offensive lineman Lane Potter received the honor in 2021. Former standout running back/returner Josh Renel was the recipient in 2011. WSU's first honoree was Matt Fishburn in 1997, the second year of the award.
"We are very proud of Julius Wilkerson for all that he has accomplished on and off the field," stated WSU head coach Paul Winters. "He is a leader with his words and his actions. He represents everything a Wayne State Warrior should be, with his community service, his play on the field and his commitment to excellence in the classroom! Over his career, Julius has shown that there is more than one way to be considered a winner. He has done everything right and is being rewarded in numerous ways. This award acknowledges his amazing efforts."
On the gridiron, Wilkerson has started 25 games in his collegiate career. WSU's Defensive Rookie of the Year for 2019, he was voted to the All-GLIAC First Team in 2021, and Second Team in 2022. Wilkerson has made 221 career tackles (95 solo, 126 assisted) in 31 games, including 18.5 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries. He has recorded four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
A year ago, he was voted WSU's Defensive Most Valuable Player as well as the recipient of the Randy Guzowski Award, which goes to the individual who has demonstrated team leadership and shown exemplary school and community citizenship.
The only NCAA Division II football player named a national finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman), Wilkerson will be attending the National Football Foundation's Awards dinner this coming Tuesday in Las Vegas.
A three-year team captain, he was a member of the 2021 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® for his community service work. Wilkerson has volunteered his time with the Hashtag Lunchbag program making sandwiches for the homeless; Family Assistance for Renaissance Men (F.A.R.M.); tutoring multiple times at the Downtown Boxing Gym; going through Narcan Overdose Training through Americorps; creating Boxes of Love through Cru Inner City, a religious organization in Detroit; assisting at the Penrickton Center for Blind Children in Taylor, Mich.; Be the Match Bone Marrow Registry; working multiple events for the Special Olympics (Football Camp, Basketball Event and Easter Event); and this past fall he has been working with the Jared Box Project.
A Psychology major, who will graduate later this month, Wilkerson has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term GPA 3.5+) all eight previous semesters, including one 4.00 term.
He is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is serving as co-President for the second straight year during the 2022-23 academic year. Wilkerson is WSU's Male GLIAC SAAC Representative during the 2022-23 academic year (second consecutive year in that role) and was a member of the WSU Student Leadership Council.
He was recently named to the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team.
