Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 25, 1993 TAG: 9306250057
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The Hokies beat Syracuse, Kansas and Maryland to sign quarterback Willie Wilkins in December, but they could not beat the Seattle Mariners. Wilkins, of Boynton Beach, Fla., signed Monday with the major-league baseball team and will report to the Mariners' rookie league affiliate in Peoria, Ariz.
That means Wilkins' football days are over. Mariners scout John Ramey said his contract prohibits pads and playbooks.
"We indicated if he was going to receive any money of any significance, we couldn't allow him to go play football, get a knee banged up, a shoulder banged up, and pretty soon he can't play," Ramey said. "He understood that."
Ramey declined to disclose Wilkins' signing bonus but did say the Mariners will pay for his college education.
Wilkins was a strong prospect in Tech's well-regarded recruiting class. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback set 48 records at Atlantic High School and was ranked among the top 60 players in talent-rich Florida.
Seattle chose Wilkins in the 36th round of the major-league draft earlier this month. Ramey, the Mariners' Florida scout, said Wilkins' baseball talent is "kind of crude" because he never has concentrated on the sport. Ramey said Wilkins - drafted as an outfielder - has speed, a good arm and "big-league power."
Ramey said Wilkins and his mother indicated before the draft that he might sign a pro contract.
"We took a chance, and fortunately for us his family was true to their word," Ramey said.
Wilkins' choice leaves one quarterback in Tech's '93 recruiting class: 6-2, 200-pound Cody Whipple from Milford (Conn.) Academy.
by CNB