Faith, Family, and Football: Wenkers Wright

NORMAL, Ill. -I got the chance to sit down with Illinois State football’s one and only Wenkers Wright. For the Illinois State senior running back, the journey through college football has been one of growth — physically, mentally, and as a leader. Since arriving in Normal, Wright has developed into one of the team’s most consistent and reliable playmakers, carving out a role that reflects both his talent and his commitment to the program.

“My journey so far has been a very fun one, and one that I wouldn’t change a thing about,” said Wright. “I’ve been waiting, and now it’s Senior season time, so we just [got to] give it one more go and give it everything I have,” he added.

That growth has come with time, experience, and a relentless work ethic. Wright points to one area of his game that has evolved the most since his freshman year — a change that’s helped him become a more complete back and a bigger threat in the Redbirds’ offense.

He attributes his highest level of improvement to the pass blocking game, saying, “Since I’ve gotten here, in the last 2 years specifically, I’ve gotten the mental capacity to just step in front of linebackers and pick [them] up.”

For the senior running back, game days are about more than just suiting up. “Flipping the switch,” as Wenkers calls it, is all he does right before kickoff. He’s developed a system that gets him locked in, focused, and ready to perform at a high level.

One big thing that helps him “lock in” is his faith in the Lord, “I am big into my faith, so I just really put it all in the Lord’s hands.” Another thing Wenkers makes sure to do the day before every game is call his dad, “He calls me, and we just talk ball, and that helps me get locked in.”

Of course, over the years, there have been moments that stick — games that mean a little more or memories that serve as reminders of why the grind is worth it. For Wright, one game stands out as a defining moment in his Redbird career, and that was a moment he had worked towards all year, “ My goal that I was chasing was to have a 1000-yard season, and I remember the game, it was a home game against North Dakota … the announcer called my name after a run up the middle and with everyone cheering and my parents in the stands screaming he says, “he has just surpassed 1000 yards on the season” and reaching that mark and hearing that, it was pretty surreal.”

Now, as one of the seasoned veterans in the locker room, Wright has taken on a new role — not just producing on the field but helping guide the younger players off it.

“Most importantly, I just lead by example. If I’m telling them how to run something, I am going to show them in practice, and I’m not going to ask them to do anything I wouldn’t do myself.” His leadership is less about speeches and more about presence, consistency, and showing the next generation what it means to be a Redbird.

Away from the field, Wright knows the importance of balance. He’s got his go-to ways to relax and unwind when football isn’t front and center — a reminder that even the most intense competitors need time to recharge, and he does this by spending all the time he can with his Fiancé. “She is such a blessing to be around, and when I think of relaxing, she comes to mind.” Wright added, “We enjoy fishing, although we haven’t been able to go as much, I see a lot more fishing in our future.”

He draws inspiration from those closest to him: his parents, his fiancé, and most importantly, the Lord. Behind the helmet, there’s still more to the person than the player. In Wenkers mind, he is nothing special, “The only thing that makes me special is my relationship and my faith in Christ, but when you look at me, I am just your average Joe.”

Wenkers Wright is currently sitting 6th all time on the ISU career rushing yards list (2,321 yards) and leads a Redbird rushing attack that is averaging around 185 rushing yards a game, with Wright leading the team this year with 306 rushing yards. You won’t see #32 Wenkers Wright on the field this week, but next week he will look to keep the ground game rolling against the #1 team in FCS, the Bison from North Dakota State as they will travel to Normal for a Top 5 FCS matchup.

WZND will broadcast the game versus NDSU on wznd.com next Saturday starting at 5:50 p.m.

For all things Redbird football, refer to wznd.com.

For WZND, I’m Kole Schipper.