Herrin's Wells signs to play football at McKendree

HERRIN -- Herrin High School senior lineman Gage Wells signed a letter of intent last Thursday to play football this fall on scholarship at McKendree University.
"It's a dream come true. It's exciting. This is something I've been looking forward to for some time," Wells said. 
For four years, Wells has been in the varsity starting lineup for the Tigers. What makes that even more unique is the fact that he accomplished that as an offensive lineman. A rare feat.
He also played on the defensive line the last two years.
After adding in 11 playoff games over those four years, Wells has registered 47 consecutive starts. That's almost 12 starts per season. It is not known if that is a state record as no such records are posted on the Illinois High School Association website, but if not a record, it's close.
Wells, listed at 6-foot-1 and weighing 285 pounds, played right tackle through his junior year and right guard for the Tigers his senior year. He added defensive tackle chores as a junior and senior. His accolades were many.
Wells was named Second Team All-Conference offensive lineman as a freshman as Herrin captured a conference championship and advanced to the Class 4A semifinals, finishing 11-2 overall.
As a sophomore, Wells was named First Team All-Conference, All-South and the team went 9-2 with another league title and second-round playoff appearance.
As a junior, Wells was a unanimous First Team All-Conference performer on both offense and defense, All-South and Honorable Mention All-State. The Tigers finished 9-2, won the conference, and advanced to the second round of the state playoffs.
And as a senior, he was again unanimous First Team All-Conference on both sides of the ball, All-South and First Team All-State as the Tigers finished 10-2, won yet another league title and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. 
"I'm real excited for Gage and proud of what he has developed into both on and off the field these last four years," said Herrin head coach Jason Karnes. "He has been a great football player for us and will be sorely missed."
Karnes said that it was Wells who he and the team turned to in opening up a hole when that key first down was needed late in a game. 
"More often than not, he came through for us," Karnes said. "In the 12 years I've been here, he is the best lineman I have coached and one of the best players period. He was a big part of us winning four conference championships."
Karnes, himself a McKendree grad, said he couldn't be happier that Wells will play for his alma mater.
"Gage will compete well and it wouldn't surprise me to see him making an immediate impact there," Karnes said.
Wells said he isn't sure if he is good enough to step in as a freshman and contribute at the varsity level for the Bearcats, but will work hard to show his new coaches that he is determined to make the grade.