Ohio ATH Kenny Wilkins starting to set visits

Bedford, Ohio athlete Kenny Wilkins has stayed under the radar for most of his recruitment, but could be a late-emerging target for several schools after the early signing period concludes. There are 15 schools, however, that have already extended Wilkins a scholarship and his first official visit has been planned.

“I am supposed to be going down to Cincinnati on the 25th of this month,” Wilkins reported. “Cincinnati is a great program and I have a great relationship with Coach Joker (Phillips). We have two players down there now that played for us.”

Among the 15 offers Wilkins lists are Power Five programs Iowa State, Kentucky and Pittsburgh. Of those programs, Iowa State is the one he continues to keep in the closest contact with and they are under consideration for an official visit.

“I talk to Iowa State a lot,” Wilkins said. “It’s timing with my mother’s work because she doesn’t want me going down there by myself. Whenever she’s free, then she said we’ll probably take the time to go down there.”

Other schools Wilkins maintains close contact with are Eastern Michigan and Marshall, the latter being a school he recently visited.

“Marshall, I just visited there two weeks ago,” Wilkins said. “I like the atmosphere and I feel like I could be there for four years. It feels like home for me.”

Bedford kicks off the opening round of the OHSAA playoffs Friday night after finishing the regular season with a 9-1 record. The 6-foot, 210-pound Wilkins accumulated 1,675 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns at running back in those 10 games and also had two interception returns for touchdowns at linebacker. He could project to either position in college.

“Most of the schools that I talk to talk to me about running back,” he said. “Honestly, I will pretty much play wherever a coach puts me at. Whether it is on the defensive side or the offensive side, I just want to be on the field.”

With the season still continuing at Bedford and all of his official visits yet to be taken, Wilkins expects to wait and sign in the February signing period.