WHEELING – The Ohio Valley is not known as fertile ground for D-I college recruiters in search of quarterbacks.

Cross Wilkinson is an exception.

Wheeling Park’s three-time all-stater embarked on his collegiate career at the University of Toledo Saturday. He chose the Rockets over the likes of Akron, Marshall and a bevy of Ivy League schools.

Wilkinson takes a host of school passing records, loads of talent and character as well as unbridled optimism to the Glass City. He also owns the distinction of being the only quarterback to lead Wheeling Park to a state grid title, a feat he achieved in his sophomore campaign.

The 6-3, 210-pounder is ready to help in any fashion for one of the MAC’s premier programs. The Rockets went 11-3 last fall en route to winning the conference championship and gaining a Dollar General Bowl berth.

“As an incoming frosh I will compete to be a starter but I will look to help the team in anyway I can,” Wilkinson said Tuesday after a weight-room workout at Pyles Elite Performance Institute in Elm Grove. “If not a starter, I can run the scout team or do the sideline signals. If they want to redshirt me I will be fine with that also. I just want to do what is best for the team.

“The starting quarterback has graduated. He was drafted by the Bengals in the seventh round,” he added. “There are five quarterbacks on the roster. So the starting spot is up for grabs.”

Wilkinson picked Toledo for the opportunity to play for an institution that combined quality on the gridiron and in the classroom.

“I wanted to go to a program with a strong winning tradition. Toledo has that. They are always one of the premier teams in the MAC,” Wilkinson said. “Their coaches are great and there is a lot of team unity. I have gotten to know the players really well and there is great camaraderie, especially with my incoming class.

“I also plan on majoring in pre-international business. Toledo has a highly rated program,” he continued. “Toledo has a great support system in both football and academics. I am excited to get started.”

Academics are a priority for the well-mannered standout. He graduated Park with a 4.3 GPA.

Wilkinson has been honing his skills and building his body feverishly since last November. Park’s season ended with a playoff loss to Capital.

“I have been throwing 2-3 days a week with Chad Broadwater (Wheeling businessman and former record-setting quarterback at Shepherd University),” Wilkinson said. “My weight-room workouts with Josh (Pyles) are going well. I have been with him for 5-6 years.

“I am also running six days a week. I will be reporting to camp in excellent condition,” he noted. “Once we get there we will be working out five days a week. Plus I will be taking two classes.”

Pyles, who has trained a slew of D-I athletes, has high praise for his Park pupil.

“Cross is one of the most coachable athletes I have ever been around. He is a quick learner and uses what he learns. He has a tremendous athletic frame,” Pyles said. “You can’t beat his character and personality. He has a great work ethic that will enable him to get better and better.”

Wilkinson is Park’s all-time leader in passing yards (6,477) and TD passes (64). He accumulated a host of accolades, including three-time All-TRAC, All-Valley and All-OVAC honoree. In addition, he was two-time Nike Elite The Opening Camp regional invitee, a US Army All-American National Combine invitee and a 2018 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl Game participant.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better high school career. I want to thank every player and coach. We had great relationships at Park,” Wilkinson said. “We developed lifelong friendships along the way. I would not be where I am without all of them.”

With a banner prep career now in the books and a collegiate career taking root, what are Wilkinson’s goals with the Rockets?

“We have the top-rated recruiting class in the MAC and the highest in school history coming in this year. So I am hoping to win MAC titles and bowl games,” Wilkinson said. “I want to be remembered as a great Toledo Rocket family member, as a player who competed hard and who left everything on the field.”

Wheeling Park head football coach Chris Daugherty nailed it in regards to Wilkinson.

“Coaches hate to lose a three-year starter at QB because we are losing our coach on the field,” Daugherty said. “But we are losing even more with Cross going to Toledo. He is a role model for all high school boys and how they should be living their life.”

BUBBA’S BITS

ZAC BRUNEY continues to build his Wheeling Jesuit University football staff. Recent additions to the Cardinals’ grid staff were Dirk Fitch and Raphael Johnson. Fitch, a former Martins Ferry grid aide, will be in charge of the running backs, a position he excelled at for Bellaire High and Bowling Green. Johnson will be directing the linebackers. He previously was an assistant at Bellaire High for Mark Spigarelli.

BRIDGEPORT HIGH is set to announce its new head football coach this coming Wednesday. The opening came about last month when Gary Krol resigned after one year at the Bulldog helm.

DR. BILL Welker?s award-winning memoirs – The Sparrow?s Spirit: A Champion Wrestler?s Lifetime Reflections on Prayer and Perseverance – may be purchased and personally autographed by sending a $20 check, made payable to Bill Welker, 110 North Huron St. Wheeling, WV 26003. As an added free bonus, you will also receive a copy of his 30-minute DVD: The Pancake (lateral drop) Takedown Series. Welker will donate $10 to the OVAC Wrestling Coaches Scholarship Fund for every book sold.

THE PHOENIX Suns and the Atlanta Hawks came away the big winners in the NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies, however, pulled off a steal by taking Jevon Carter with the 32nd pick. The WVU guard is a first-round talent and will pair nicely with Michael Conley Jr. Ohio State star Keita Bates-Diop, projected as a late first-rounder, fell all the way to Minnesota at pick No. 48.

BUCKEYE TRAIL has hired Drew Meister as its new head boys’ basketball coach. He has made coaching stops at Newark Catholic and Chillicothe. He guided the Green Wave to a state runnerup finish in 2010.

FORMER STEUBENVILLE High QB great Zach Collaros had a rough outing in his second game under center with Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League. Collaros left in the first quarter and didn’t return after taking several big hits. He tossed a TD pass prior to his exit. In his opener, the former University of Cincinnati star guided the Roughriders to victory by throwing two TD passes and for more than 200 yards.

RYAN ALEXANDER was a star hoopster and baseball player at St. John Central who went onto a sparkling diamond career at Muskingum University, picking up his diploma in 2003. He has spent the last 10 years as head baseball coach at Grove City High in suburban Columbus. Alexander has led the Greyhounds to great success, winning six conference titles, three district crowns while make the state tournament on two occasions. His superb work landed Alexander on the cover of the inaugural edition of “Discover Grove City” magazine this month.