East/West Shrine Game: Kevin Wilkins
East/West Shrine Game: Kevin Wilkins
With most of the media attention focused on the Reese’s Senior Bowl down in Alabama, it’s a shame we don’t see as much coverage for the other scouting games and practices, especially when one of them has a fellow Scarlet Knight impressing potential drafters. According to ScarletNation.com, Rutgers DL Kevin Wilkins has garnered plenty of attention from NFL scouts in at St. Petersburg, FL.’s Shrine Game’s practices.
During his four years in Piscataway, Wilkins has been one of the Scarlet Knights’ more underrated prospects. From 2015-2018, the 6’2, 306 pounder has recorded 122 tackles, two sacks, 20 tackles for losses, five pass deflections and an interception.
But Wilkins’ backstory is just as impactful as his on-field production. NorthJersey.com ran a small preview piece on Wilkins last week. In it, they highlighted how his living situation impacted Wilkins’ trajectory in life, writing “He’s lived in 14 foster homes, in urban centers around Paterson, Jersey City, Newark and Hackensack. Many after his adoptive parents were divorced.”
North Jersey.com also found that he is a distant cousin of Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Having played in both a 3-4 & 4-3 system at Rutgers, Wilkins is a versatile defender at the line of scrimmage. The Denver Broncos & Dallas Cowboys have already met with Wilkins, sparking rumors that either team is considering him as a third day draft pick.
-By: Juan Pablo Guarin-Camargo