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Clemson's Christian Wilkins Postpones NFL Riches to Work as a Substitute Teacher

CLEMSON, S.C. — Around here, they call him Mr. Wilkins. Not Christian Wilkins, All-American defensive lineman. Or Christian Wilkins, national champion and heartbeat of Clemson football.

Just…Mr. Wilkins.

Where here will be depends on his schedule. One day, it might be at Walhalla High School—a gorgeous stone building off Highway 11, 30 minutes from Clemson's campus. The next, it might be James M. Brown Elementary—a brick structure with green roofing in Walhalla, South Carolina.

At these schools and others across Oconee County, Wilkins is not one of the nation's best defensive linemen. He is, instead, a fill-in.