2018 Gameday Program Senior Feature - Mikale Wilbon

Mikale Wilbon, a senior running back from Chicago, Ill., looks to cap off his final season at Nebraska by taking it all in stride and doing anything he can to help his team have a successful year.

“I just want to win, to be honest with you,” Wilbon said. “I really want to get to the Big Ten Championship and win it. Anything after that would be a bonus. I’m not really concerned about individual goals.”

Unlike many of his teammates, Wilbon has already graduated from Nebraska. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in higher education, as he would like to stay around college football and work with player personnel or have a role in recruiting student-athletes.

Originally from the south side of Chicago, Wilbon started playing football as a kid because of the inspiration of his great-grandfather, Ronald Waters. He still thinks about Waters every time he touches the field.

“He started me in football when I was seven-years-old,” Wilbon said. “He pretty much stayed on me year in and year out. Unfortunately, he passed away before I reached high school, but I know I’ve made him proud with how far I’ve been able to go with football.”

Less than six percent of high school players get the chance to play college football, and an even lower percentage are talented enough to play Division I (FBS) football. Wilbon feels blessed to have made it to Nebraska to continue his football career.

Wilbon chose Nebraska over other programs such as Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Mississippi State, Missouri and Vanderbilt. The atmosphere and fan base in Lincoln helped make his decision even easier.

“It should be obvious, but the best part about Nebraska is the fans,” Wilbon said. “Everyone knows the fans here are the best in the country. Another big reason I signed [with Nebraska] is because of Coach [Ron] Brown. He’s a great coach, great man and he’s put a lot of running backs into the NFL.”

Brown said he remembers Wilbon as a high schooler and is proud of the man he’s become.

“I got to know Mikale through the recruiting process back in 2014 and got to know him and his mom and his family,” Brown said. “What I really appreciate about young men is seeing them grow from a high school kid to a man. He already has his undergraduate degree and is working on a master’s. I’m really proud of him for that. He’s done a really good job of focusing on those things academically. He’s also done five years here of football. I’m very excited for him and his future. I think he’s paved a way for him, because of his diligence. Just seeing himself get through, with not only an undergraduate degree, but also a graduate degree, he’s kind of set a trajectory for himself. I think that frees him up to be the very best he can in football as well."

Now in 2018, Wilbon has had to overcome three coaching staff changes. With that came new responsibilities and having to work his way up the depth chart to prove himself time and time again. Although these transitions were hard at times, being with his teammates every day is what made it worthwhile. And it’s what Wilbon will miss the most.

“I’m just going to miss hanging around my brothers every day,” he said. “Through the good times and the bad times, we were always there for each other and had each other’s backs.”