With football season in the rearview mirror, the intersect between the NFL and college football steps into the spotlight. It’s about to be full on NFL Draft season for all around the sport.
But well before the draft took over as a primary talking point, the process began. Select players who have declared were able to showcase their talents in ‘college all-star’ settings, this including Oklahoma’s own Walter Rouse.
Rouse went through the week at the East-West Shrine Bowl, able to meet and be coached by representatives from all 32 NFL teams. One happened to be New York Jets assistant offensive line coach Ben Wilkerson, chosen to be one of the position coaches by the bowl.
“This is my second year doing it and I did it back in the 2019 year, it’s been phenomenal,” Wilkerson said. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to come here and coach these young men that come from different backgrounds, different places, and then work with coaches from different backgrounds, different places, and collaborate with ideas and get these kids the best chance to go out there and be successful in the future.”
Wilkerson started more than 40 games in college with the LSU Tigers and was named a co-recipient of the Rimington Trophy his senior year, the award that recognizes the top center in the nation each season. He spent time in the NFL as a player with the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons. Wilkerson began his coaching career at his alma mater, LSU, but later would sign on with the Chicago Bears back in 2015. From there, Wilkerson coached with the Bears and New York Giants before joining the Jets’ staff back in February of 2022. Through his journey across multiple levels of the sport, Wilkerson has learned to truly value the opportunity these showcase events provide.
“I definitely learn a lot from the coaches that I work with and I learn a lot from players that I coach,” Wilkerson said. “Because that’s a part of the evaluation process, getting to know them, to see if they are fit for what you’re looking for in your own organization… They’ve all come from different coaching backgrounds, and to learn some different techniques for them to buy-in to what we’re trying to bring to the table, to get a grasp and understanding of what NFL coaching is going to be like, what an NFL system is going to look like, and what it feels like to participate in it.”
For this year’s edition of the Shrine Bowl, Wilkerson was given an impressive room of offensive linemen to coach. Unprompted, when asked for some standouts, Wilkerson’s first mention was one Oklahoma fans are familiar with.
Rouse immediately entered the Shrine Bowl week and asserted himself as one of the top tackles in attendance. It didn’t take him long to not only secure a starting spot for the East Team, but to generate tons of buzz from every scout, coach or media member observing.