Senior Circuit: Derek Wooten
When you stand 6-foot-6 and weigh 303 pounds, you give new meaning to the term Big Man on Campus. Senior Derek Wooten, offensive tackle for the Wofford Terriers, is just that.
A Rock Hill, S.C. native, he chose Wofford because he felt it was the best fit academically and athletically.
“I wanted to go to a college and receive a great education and at the same time play for a successful, winning football program, and the Lord has completely blessed me with both,” says Wooten. “I liked the location, the people, and the school in general. I was very excited to come here.”
Wooten is a finance major, and was named to the Academic All-Southern Conference team in 2006 and 2007. He didn’t choose finance so much as it seems it has chosen him.
“I decided on it during the spring of my sophomore year,” he says. “The biggest reason I chose it then was because I had to in order to stay eligible for athletics. However, I also felt it could be very beneficial to me in the future. Now I have to say I have learned a lot in the field of finance and I am very glad I chose it. I look forward to applying my knowledge outside of the walls of Wofford.”
Meanwhile, there have been many fond times inside those walls at Gibbs Stadium.
“I have had many great memories here,” says Wooten. “Winning the Southern Conference last year was unbelievable, and the memories of beating Appalachian State (after they had beaten Michigan earlier in the year) and then going to Montana and shocking the country in the playoffs will be things I will always look back on and smile.
“I have been blessed to have the opportunity to start three years for the football team. I never dreamed that I would have the success that God has allowed me to achieve here. It’s been unbelievable. And other memories from Wofford as well, such as making lifelong friendships with the guys here and looking forward to being a part of each other's lives for years to come.”
Going forward, the newlywed Wooten (married wife Melissa on July 5) says he will leave that up to someone very familiar.
“My plans for next year and beyond are honestly in the hands of the Lord,” he says. “I will be going into the ministry after this semester. It’s something I originally did not think I would do because my father is a minister. My answer was always, ‘I think I want to do something else.’
“However, when the Lord called me into ministry I could not get away from it and I knew that was what His plan was for my life. Honestly in whatever type of ministry I do or wherever I go, I want the Lord's will to be done in my life and for him somehow to receive glory through all I do. I am so excited to see what God has in store for my life.”