In just his 2nd year of football, Camden Catholic sr. earns college scholarship

Wayne Gilliam was hired to be the coach at his alma mater, Camden Catholic High Schoool, in March 2023.

He excitedly arrived at the school to meet his new football team and when the players were called down to the assembly only 10 showed up.

Gilliam knew he had work to do.

As he walked the halls after dismissal, he happened to bump into a 6-foot-6 basketball player, Sean Welde.

“I see this tall, lanky lumberjack in the hallway and said ‘You have to play football,’ and he said ‘I got you,’” recalled Gilliam.

A little over a year-and-a-half later, Welde is a two-way star for the 6-0 Camden Catholic High School football team and next year he will be headed to Villanova on a scholarship to play tight end.

Welde averaged 6.2 points and 5.7 rebounds for the Irish basketball team last year, but football has quickly become the sport where he has excelled and has a future beyond high school. He has 13 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns and despite likely being an offensive player at the next level has recorded eight sacks with a forced fumble and fumble recovery on defense.

“I was always a basketball player, that was my thing, I was always a big kid, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to play (football), I just didn’t,” said Welde. “I gained 20 pounds this year (up to 240). I would say I’m still a raw player because I don’t know everything. The coaches are teaching me every day, and I’m learning a lot.”

Welde admitted he wasn’t expecting to compete at the next level – especially at the FCS level – when he first started playing football.

“When coach told me (colleges were interested), I was shocked, I thought he was lying,” said Welde. “To be playing college football is kind of surreal, but should be a lot of fun. Villanova was my first offer. I have a couple family members who go there, so when they offered I accepted.”

Gilliam said while Welde initially gave him his commitment that day in March, he wasn’t sure how firm it was. He didn’t see him again until the first day of training camp.

“He was ghosting me,” said Gilliam with a laugh. “I hadn’t heard from him, then the first day in August I saw him running down the hill with his helmet and shoulder pads and I said, ‘Yes!’”

In the Irish’s 41-6 win over Overbrook last Saturday, Welde recorded a sack and also hauled in three catches for 43 yards, including a 30-yard over-the-shoulder touchdown catch. Gilliam said it was the type of reception that showed the growth in the second-year player.

“When he first came out, he couldn’t even catch a ball over his shoulder,” said Gilliam. “You see him score that touchdown, it shows how much he wants to work. He’s one of those kids that stays after to work on his craft. If he dropped five balls in practice, he’s catching 10 at the end. He makes other kids stay after and works with his teammates. He demands that. He takes care of his body, he’s in the tub club after practice.

“(The transformation) has been amazing. Now the kids understand you put in the hard work and somebody’s going to find you. Kids think you have to go to these bigger-name schools that have a tradition of winning. If you do what you have to do people will find you. He’s been a great leader, comes with a little bit of an edge because they were winning in basketball.”

Now, after several down seasons and coaching changes, the Irish are winning in football as well, and a chance meeting in the hallway less than two years is a big reason why.

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Bill Evans covers the West Jersey Football League. He can be reached at bevans@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bybillevans.