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Carl Wilmer Jr. (left), a senior at Marksville High, signs a "national letter of intent" to play football for Grambling State University. Among those sharing the moment were his father, Carl Wilmer Sr. (center) and sister, MHS basketball coach Roslyn Wilmer. {Photo by Raymond L. Daye}

Carl Wilmer Jr. signs with Grambling

'Still a Tiger'

 

   Carl Wilmer Jr. always made an impression on defenders who had the misfortune of lining up against him on Friday night.
  On Feb. 3, National Signing Day, he made quite an impression on a lot of people as he sat surrounded by family in front of his teammates as he signed a “national letter of intent” to play football for Grambling State University near Ruston.
   “Carl had a couple of late offers from other colleges, but he has family that attended Grambling and I think he pretty much shut down his search after getting the offer from GSU,” head football coach J.T. Dunbar said. “This has been a dream of his to play college ball, and I’m glad to see he’s still going to be a Tiger.”
   Wilmer is a 6-4 and 350-pound offensive tackle and was named to the Class AAA All-State team this year in recognition of his efforts to help the Marksville Tigers go to the playoffs.
   As an offensive lineman, he can’t brag about how many tackles or sacks or interceptions he had for the season, nor can he claim any rushing yards, pass receptions or field goals.
    “I just made a hole for the others to run through,” he said with a laugh.
    He said GSU Tigers Coach Broderick Fobbs told him he has a chance to start on the offensive line as a freshman.
    He thinks he will be placed at tackle, but noted that his size “is kind of in the middle between a tackle and guard. I could play guard.”
   Wilmer said he has always wanted to play college football and hopes someday he can play in the NFL. He plans to major in business at Grambling.
    His father, Carl Wilmer Sr., said he is proud of his son’s hard work to make his dream of playing college football a reality.
    “I am elated for him and wish him the best of luck,” the elder Wilmer said.
   Other family members at the signing ceremony included his mother, Amanda Wilmer, his sister, Marksville girls’ basketball coach Roslyn Wilmer, and several cousins.
    “See you at the Bayou Classic,” Roslyn Wilmer shouted, to the cheers of the MHS Tigers in the auditorium to watch the event. 
The Bayou Classic is the traditional game between the Grambling Tigers and the Southern University Jaguars. Think of it as Grambling’s version of the “Catskin” game -- the rivalry between the Marksville Tigers and Bunkie Panthers.
    Dunbar told the other athletes in attendance that Wilmer is an outstanding example of a student athlete.
   “Those of you with dreams and aspirations, you have to know that it takes more than what you can do on the field to make those happen,” Dunbar said. “That ‘C’ hurts you. That ‘D’ hurts you.”
   Dunbar said Wilmer always put forth the effort to do well on the field, and he showed that same determination off the field.
   “Carl had a little trouble with his ACT score,” Dunbar said.
   Rather than shrug his large shoulders and give up, Wilmer buckled down and did the hard work necessary to prepare for and get an ACT score that resulted in Grambling offering him an athletic scholarship to wear the black and gold on the gridiron.
   Dunbar praised Wilmer not only for being a student concerned with improving his academics, and as an athlete who practiced hard and played hard, but also for his strength of character.
    “He never got in trouble,” the coach said. “On Saturday night, you didn’t have to worry about what he might be doing.”
    Dunbar thanked Wilmer’s parents for raising their son right and giving him the values that will help him succeed later in life.