Berea – Browns No. 1 draft choice Kamerion Wimbley has the moniker of a good
guy. He’s one of those guys who came from a troubled background and has found a
way to put his best foot forward.
After his parents divorced, his mother was arrested for possession of drugs
with intention to sell and he moved in with his grandmother.
“Just growing up I faced some adversity,” Wimbley said. “My parents divorced
and we moved form Alaska to Kansas. My mother was a single parent and when she
had to go to jail, my grandmother adopted us. I was with her from third grade to
the eighth grade.
Later on, his father moved to Kansas and Wimbley lived with him. Football
became a way to help Wimbley overcome some of the troubles he faced.
“I got involved in football from the eighth grade through high school and
then went to Florida State,” he said.
Wimbley said there’s been a happy ending with his mother.
“My mom is doing great,” he said. “She moved to Florida with me the past
couple of years.”
Wimbley admitted his background helped him to decide on being a social work
major and working with youth in the city.
“(My background) played a major role because there were many people who were
influential in helping me get to the point that I am now,” Wimbley said. “I want
to show my appreciation to those who have helped me and work with kids.
“It helped me to learn to adjust and adapt to situations that I have been
in,” he said. “I was fortunate to have many people help me in a positive way. I
had some key people to point me in the right direction.”
Adapting to new situations in football should be a breeze compared to what he
has had to adjust to in life.
“I don’t think it will be too hard of an adjustment to switch from end to
linebacker,” Wimbley said. “My position coach at college thought I could make
the switch pretty well. Everyone has been impressed with the way I handled the
switch at the pro days and at my workouts.”
Wimbley ran a 4.67 in the 40-yard dash and bench pressed 346 pounds.
“As a pass rusher, I think speed is definitely one of the assets I have,” he
said. “My ability to get low and my flexibility will definitely help me get
better at the next level.”
Wimbley is eager to learn from Pro Bowler Willie McGinest.
“Willie McGinest is a great player and I’ve watched him with the Patriots,”
he said. “It’s a great situation for me to step in there and learn from one of
the best players in the league.”
The soft spoken Wimbley said he will be able to help the Browns.
“I think I will be able to come in and contribute and help the Browns be a
successful ball club,” he said. “If I do the best I can I think I will produce
for the ball club. I never stop learning. If you stop learning, you’re not
getting better. I’m eager to learn and I think I’m not at my peak physically. I
think I will get bigger and faster.”
“It’s a blessing to be considered to be a good enough player to be taken in
the top half of the first round,” he said. “I think some of the coaches and
scouts were able to see me move around and that helped me.”