Photo: Westbrook Christian senior P.J. Wells signed a football scholarship with Jacksonville State University on April 17. Pictured, from left: mom Tara Clark, P.J., house mom Jamie Kilgo, house dad Slade Kilgo. (Chris McCarthy/Messenger)
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
P.J. Wells is taking his gridiron talents from Rainbow City to Gamecock country.
The Westbrook Christian senior wide receiver capped an outstanding high school football career by signing a football scholarship with Jacksonville State University on April 17.
Wells helped the 2018 Warriors to a 7-4 record and a second straight berth in the Class 2A state playoffs. He finished the season with a team-high 45 catches for 815 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was a member of the All-Messenger football team as well as a second-team ASWA All-State selection.
“Our group coming worked really hard in the weight room, and it really paid off the last couple of years,” he said. “All of us seniors tried to get everyone in the weight room, and that really helped with our depths to get more bodies on the field.”
This past season, Jacksonville State went 9-4 and won a record fifth straight outright Ohio Valley Conference title. The Gamecocks defeated East Tennessee State in the FCS playoffs before falling to Maine in the second round.
“I’m not big on losing, and I don’t want to play for a team that has a culture of losing,” said Wells, who plans on studying psychology. “JSU is always in the playoffs and always competing for a championship. Plus, Coach [John] Grass really cares about the players, and not only about football. He teaches guys to become men.”
“P.J. absolutely deserves this recognition,” said Westbrook boys head basketball coach Matt Dickey. “This is something he’s worked his tail off for, and it’s an opportunity for P.J. to utilize football as a platform to share his faith and to be the role model that he’s been for us. As a guy who has led our basketball team for the past few years, I know that he’ll continue to be a leader at the next level. God not only blessed P.J. with a lot of athletic ability, He blessed him with a solid work ethic that will carry him throughout life.”
Wells will join a familiar face on the JSU football roster this fall, as Jackson Luttrell signed with the Gamecocks in February.
“Jackson’s one of my best friends,” said Wells. “I really love the guy, and I’m looking forward to playing with him in college.”