Wilkerson quickly advances to become top RB for Hornets

By Tim Mastro

DOVER — Rod Milstead knew who Sy’Veon Wilkerson was.

Wilkerson was on the Delaware State football coach’s radar. But Milstead didn’t think the Hornets had much of a shot at recruiting the running back.

Until one day Milstead received a call from Wilkerson asking to check out the Delaware State campus. Now he’s the top running back on the Hornets.

“It’s kind of crazy, he chose us,” Milstead said. “We saw him and we thought Sy’Veon would go to a bigger university. He had that talent and that ability.”

While Delaware State boasted a deep running back core coming into the season, Wilkerson has taken the reins. He received 26 carries during last Saturday’s victory against Bowie State and rushed for 92 yards with three touchdowns.

Wilkerson was honored by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this week, winning both the conference Offensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week awards.

Wilkerson got his feet wet as a freshman during the abbreviated spring season, playing in the final three games of the five-game season. He finished as Delaware State’s leading rusher for the spring with 262 yards rushing on 52 carries, averaging five yards per carry.

Since the spring season did not count against an athlete’s eligibility, Wilkerson is still considered a freshman, but doesn’t play like one says Milstead.

“What he does as a true freshman is unbelievable,” Milstead said.

Wilkerson is used to big-time moments. He played high school football at Our Lady of Good Counsel, leading it to a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship as a senior.

He was also named First Team All-WCAC and the team’s Most Valuable Player. Wilkerson said the high school experience made him feel confident about playing such a big role right away for the Hornets.

“We played a national schedule against some of the top teams in the country,” he said. “I felt like that helped me with the speed of the game here, it was easier to adjust to because of the competition I played in high school.”

As for why he chose DelState, Wilkerson said he wanted to be a part of the group who completed the Hornets’ rebuild.

“It was a last minute decision,” Wilkerson said. “What attracted me was I wanted to come in and help change the program.”

Bethea coming along

Tylik Bethea played the whole season opener at quarterback — the first time he played a full game since 2019.

The sophomore was named the Hornet starter for the spring. But suffered an injury in the first half and was not able to return for the rest of the abbreviated season.

Milstead said he liked what he saw from Bethea Saturday. He completed 9-of-18 passes for 76 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Bethea did add a rushing touchdown on a quarterback sneak.

“There were some things we called from up top and he was able to see the defense and checked out of it to a play that was very positive for us,” Milstead said. “Tylik has really become a student of the game. He’s earned every opportunity and is a coach on the field.”

“I’m sure there’s some plays he’d like to have back,” Milstead added. “All in all, he should feel pretty happy with the job he did managing the football.”

Hornets sweep weekly awards

Along with Wilkerson, two other Hornets were honored by the MEAC in a sweep of the weekly awards.

Esaias Guthrie was selected as the MEAC Defensive Player of the Week. He record two of the Hornets’ four interceptions in the opener.

Guthrie returned a second quarter pick 87 yards for a touchdown — the longest INT return by a Hornet since 1982. It was the second pick-six of his career.

Kevin DeShields earned MEAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after blocking two Bowie State extra-point kick attempts on Saturday.