Gamecock Football & Pro Wrestling
The Patriot and Trick Williams played football for the University of South Carolina. In the 2024 edition of Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s PWI 500, Williams is ranked #28. The Patriot was named PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year in 1991, ranked #55 in the PWI 500 that same year, and #208 in the top 500 singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003. Learn more about their football and wrestling careers below.
Trick Williams - Matrick Belton
Trick Williams, whose real name is Matrick Mondre Belton, was born on May 26, 1994, in Columbia, South Carolina. Before his wrestling career, he was active in football.
Williams played college football for the Hampton Pirates in 2013 before transferring to the South Carolina Gamecocks, where he played from 2014 to 2016. During his time with the Gamecocks, he made 11 receptions for 121 yards, all in the 2015 season. After going undrafted in 2017, he worked as an assistant coach and student-teacher intern at Airport High School in West Columbia, South Carolina. Despite his efforts, he didn’t secure a long-term position in professional football, which eventually led him to pursue a career in professional wrestling.
Trick Williams made his wrestling debut on October 5, 2021. Early in his career, he appeared as an ally of Carmelo Hayes, forming the Trick Melo Gang. Williams went on to become a former NXT North American Champion and the winner of the 2023 Men's Iron Survivor Challenge.
He has had notable matches against wrestlers like Duke Hudson, Wes Lee, and Ilja Dragunov. In 2023, Williams amicably parted ways with Carmelo Hayes to focus on his own career. He briefly held the NXT North American Championship in September 2023.
In Week 1 of Spring Breakin' 2024, Williams won the NXT Championship from Dragunov. However, he lost the title to Ethan Page in a fatal four-way match at NXT Heatwave on July 7, ending his 75-day reign.
“The Patriot” - Del Wilkes
Del Wilkes, known as The Patriot in wrestling, was born on December 21, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, and grew up in nearby Irmo. A standout football player at Irmo High School, he earned All-State honors and played in the 1979 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
Wilkes attended the University of South Carolina on a football scholarship, playing as an offensive lineman for the Gamecocks. He was a key blocker for Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers in 1980 and became one of only four consensus All-Americans in the school's history. Despite his college success, Wilkes failed to secure spots with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1985 and the Atlanta Falcons in 1986.
Wilkes transitioned to professional wrestling in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) under the name "The Trooper," gaining popularity with his police officer persona and winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship with D.J. Peterson. Later, he adopted the patriotic character "The Patriot," known for his love of country.
He wrestled for several major promotions, including the Global Wrestling Federation, All Japan Pro Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). In WCW, he won the World Tag Team Championship twice, and in WWE, he feuded with stars like Bret Hart.
Wilkes retired from wrestling in 1998 due to injuries and passed away on June 30, 2021, at age 59. In 2022, he was posthumously inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame.
Previously I wrote about the connections to Salisbury University and professional wrestling through Eric Arndt (formerly Enzo Amore) and Miami Mike Walker.
