Doug Wilkerson was all set to play college ball at Michigan State, but an incident with another student in his senior year of high school led to its revocation.  It didn't derail his path to the pros; though he attended the small HBCU North Carolina Central, he shone so brightly that the Houston Oilers selected him in the first round in 1970.  As a rookie, Wilkerson did not start and was also playing at Defensive End.  The Oilers traded the Guard to San Diego, and he would play a large part in the “Air Coryell” Offense of the Chargers. 

Wilkerson was San Diego’s starting Left Guard from 1971 to 1984, and with the arrival of Dan Fouts in 1973 and Coryell’s arrival in 1978, Wilkerson became the protector of the Chargers offense.  Fouts was routinely throwing for unprecedented passing yards at the time, and Wilkerson was one of the top guards who rarely got his due, with the exception of the San Diego media.  Wilkerson was finally rewarded with three straight Pro Bowls (1980-82) and a First Team All-Pro in 1982.  Arguably one of the best Offensive Linemen in Chargers history, Wilkerson is part of the Chargers Hall of Fame and Black College Hall of Fame.