Good fortune has not been the hallmark of Sherman Wilkinson’s college football career so far.

As a Mount Union freshman two years ago, the Fairmont High School graduate dislocated his right index finger in the Purple Raiders’ Division III championship-game loss to Wisconsin-Whitewater.

“It popped out through my knuckle,” he recalled. “They couldn’t put it back into place and I had to get surgery that night.”

Months of cast-wearing and rehab followed, costing Wilkinson his sophomore season.

Last Saturday, in a 54-0 shellacking of Ohio Northern, Wilkinson strained an Achilles’ tendon, putting in doubt his availability for today’s game at Wilmington.

“It’s pretty bad,” he said earlier this week after practice. “I just tried to run a route out here and almost fell on my face.”

Having lived in Dayton and Kettering growing up, Wilkinson had been looking forward to playing in front of more family and friends than usual. “And,” he said, “Coach (Larry Kehres) was like, ‘I’m going to get you the ball a lot so you can put on a show for them.’

“I miss everybody back home. I live here (Mount Union is located in Alliance) over the summer, but I think about everyone in Dayton and Kettering. I can’t wait to come home for Christmas.”

Wilkinson started the opener but has caught just three passes, largely because Mount Union typically is ahead by multiple touchdowns in the second quarter and empties its bench.

Such is the likely scenario today. The Purple Raiders (4-0) have outscored opponents 208-7 and have not lost a regular-season road game since 1991. Wilmington is on a 30-game losing streak and recently saw its coach resign.

An upset might make SportsCenter.

“But our coach is being hard on us this week,” Wilkinson said. “He doesn’t want us to play down to their level.”

Wilkinson will be one of two returning starters, along with quarterback Kevin Burke, on offense next season. He will need better luck and maybe some bulk — he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 162 pounds — to follow Mount Union receivers Pierre Garcon (Redskins) and Cecil Shorts (Jaguars) to the NFL.

“Cecil’s pretty much my big brother,” said Wilkinson, a communication major. “During the (NFL) lockout last summer we lived together and worked out every day.

“I don’t know Pierre that well, but I met him over the summer in D.C. Real cool guy, humble guy. He knew about me.”

Eventually, so will the scouts. With a little luck.

Campus tour

• Quarterback Chase Belton (Northmont) was named North Coast Athletic Conference offensive player of the week after accounting for seven touchdowns (four passing, three running) in Wabash College’s 54-28 thumping of Carnegie Mellon last week. Also in that game, freshman defensive back Justin Woods (Northmont) had 10 solo tackles, assisted on four more and returned four kicks for 101 yards.

• Outside linebacker Matt Cantrell (Northmont) and defensive back Taylor Briggs (Franklin) have helped Otterbein open with four straight wins.

• Cincinnati State sophomore soccer player Justin Mitchell (Carroll) was the Ohio Community College Athletic Conference player of the week for the period ending Sept. 23. He had six goals and an assist in three wins.

If you have news of area athletes competing in college, please email smcclelland@coxinc.com or call (937) 225-2408.