[1] The team's starting quarterback from the prior season, Charlie Mathys, had graduated, and Wilkens was moved to fill in his spot.

[6][7] According to the Journal and Courier, many fans asked questions about the quarterback position for the 1921 season, and Wilkens "answered the query.

"[6] He reportedly surprised even those who were critical of him during the year, and in November coach Ewald O. Stiehm said that "Wilkens has not made a single tactical blunder in any of the games thus far.

"[6] The Journal and Courier said of Wilkens that in addition to his quarterbacking skills, he "is a good open-field runner and a sure tackler.

[9] Wilkens continued playing quarterback for Indiana in 1922, earning another letter as the team finished with a record of 1–4–2.

[13] University president William Lowe Bryan held a celebration and called for "the men of 1923 ... to win the last game at Jordan Field.

[24] He owned a business, the Wilkens Meat Market, in the early 1940s, prior to enlisting in the military for World War II in 1942.