Ex-Warrior making his move in the NFL

Before becoming a professional football player, Tuscola native Fred Wakefield found success as a Tuscola Warrior.

Wakefield played football at the University of Illinois from 1997 until 2000. He was Illinois' Defensive Player of the Year in 2000 and served as a team captain. He still ranks third in both career tackles for loss with 42 and career quarterback sacks with 21.

Wakefield was drafted in 2001 by the Arizona Cardinals and stayed there until last March, when he joined the Oakland Raiders as an unrestricted free agent. He plays tight end.

He played several positions for Arizona, including guard, offensive tackle, defensive tackle, defensive end and tight end.

But his professional success hasn't diminished his love for his hometown. He, his wife and three children have a home in Champaign, so the family visits often. Wakefield's mother still lives there, as does his wife's mother.

And he felt proud this year when the Warriors won the Class 1A state championship this fall.

"I'm definitely fond of Tuscola still," Wakefield said. "It's exciting to see different things going on around there."