Billy Wilkes

Linebacker, Providence High School

The Luke Kuechly High School Defensive Player of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of high school players both on and off the field in areas of leadership, sportsmanship, scholarship, and citizenship. This year’s winner is Billy Wilkes, a linebacker from Providence High School.

Wilkes has been a starter for 4 years with games at safety, outside linebacker, and inside linebacker. Wilkes was named Team Captain for the 2023 season and was Southwestern 4A All-Conference linebacker and team defensive player for 2022.

Wilkes was credited with 128 tackles his junior year and has accumulated 65 tackles through 5 games this season. Wilkes was also recognized as one of the “Pepman Players of the Week” for his performance against Charlotte Catholic. A four-year contributor to special teams, in 2023 Wilkes became the starting long snapper.

Wilkes exhibits leadership off the gridiron having been elected member of Providence High School’s Executive Board where he served as Spirit Chair and planned this year’s homecoming pep rally. Wilkes served as a Member of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Student Athlete Advisory Council which works to improve the student-athlete experience.

Wilkes’s community service includes serving as public address announcer for JV football games, as a member of the cart staff team at Cedarwood Country Club as well as running his own lawn care business.

The Charlotte Touchdown Club and loanDepot are proud to present Billy Wilkes with the Luke Kuechly High School Defensive Player of the Year Award.

The Award:

In 1997, the Charlotte Touchdown Club initiated the High School Defensive Player of the Year Award. This award is given annually to an area high school football player who has excelled in the four areas of our charter: Scholarship, Sportsmanship, Leadership, and Citizenship. We feel the sport of football teaches young men the very fundamentals that inspire the growth of our future leaders. The winner’s school will receive a $2,000.00 honorarium, directed to the Athletic Department, in the name of the award recipient. The recipient will be recognized for his achievement at the annual Bronko Nagurski Trophy Awards and will receive a certificate and trophy for his inspiration through example. The winner is chosen by a review panel selected by the Charlotte Touchdown Club. All finalists receive a certificate designating them as such for this award.

Award Criteria:

All applicants must be in their senior year of high school football and have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. Five specific areas are evaluated on each applicant. These areas are:

• Scholarship
• Athletic Achievements
• Sportsmanship
• Leadership
• Citizenship