The Wharton High School football team has had a historical few years. Back in the years 2017-2019, the team had a shockingly low cumulative record of 3-19. But over the next years of 2021-2023 the team had a combined record of 23-11. This magnificent turnaround was primarily to the addition of former USC hall of fame Coach Mike Williams. The new coach came in to establish not only a winning program, but a positive environment. He sent many kids to the next level, including top schools like Florida, USF, UCF, and Miami.
During the 2021 season, the team won a record-breaking number of games, going 9-3 and making it all the way to the regional semifinals, just falling short to a 14-1 Tampa Bay Tech team. This was the most success the program had ever seen.
Two-star players in the 2021 Wharton offense were wide receivers Cameron Cobb and running back Arkeese Parks. Parks led the team with 570 rushing yards, and Cobb led the team in receiving touchdowns, having double to the next highest wildcat. The awesome part about these two players is that 3 years later, they reunited as teammates at the University of South Florida. They are both Wide Receivers in the program, Cobb being a sophomore on the field and Parks being a true freshman.
When asked about what Coach Mike meant to Cobb and the program, he stated that, “I can’t express enough how thankful I am for Coach Mike, he molded me to be the person and player I am today, I wouldn’t be standing here today without him.” Cobb continued to say that he was the biggest part of his recruitment to USF, explaining that he had contacted the coach to vouch for him.
Cobb also gave a statement about his younger teammate, stating that “Parks has been so fun to watch at practice, and to see him grow as a person. The best part is that I can help him through every step.” When Cobb was a senior in his 2021 season, he brought in Parks as a sophomore, helping him out as a player and person.
Parks, being a freshman at USF, has leaned on the guidance of his older teammate, as he even catches rides with him to practice each day. They built a relationship in high school, and when they got reunited in college, their bond grew further. Parks talked about this bond saying that, “Cam has been great to have at USF, he takes me on rides and is like a big brother to me on campus.”
The two players are battling to rise in the dept chart, they use each other’s bond to help strive for greatness, relying on and pushing each other. From Wharton High School to USF, star wide receivers.