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 did not impact his path to the professional ranks, as even though he went to the small HBCU school of North Carolina Central, but shone so bright that he was a First Round Pick in 1970 by the Houston Oilers.  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) with a First Team All-Pro in 1982.  Arguable one of the best Offensive Linemen in Chargers history, Wilkerson is part of the Chargers Hall and Black College Hall of Fame.

After playing his rookie season with the Houston Oilers, Doug Wilkerson was traded to the San Diego Chargers for Tight End, Willie Frazier.  Frazier had been a two-time AFL All-Star for the Chargers, but his best days were behind him.  Wilkerson went on to play 14 years for San Diego.