Marks, Culver Sign With Thomas University Following Historic Season

Two key pieces of Wheeler County High School’s historic football season secured their futures on February 6, as Sencear Marks and Justin Culver signed letters of intent to play for Thomas University. The pair of outside linebackers will head to Thomasville to join the Nighthawks, a program that offers a unique blend of collegiate athletics and military preparation that appealed to both student-athletes.

The signings cap off a monumental year for the Bulldogs, who finished the 2025 season with a 12-1 record. The team secured the program’s first region championship and advanced to the Elite 8 for the first time in school history, setting a new standard for Wheeler County football. Both Marks and Culver were instrumental in that success, anchoring a defense that helped the team shatter records.

Thomas University’s football program stands out in the collegiate landscape for its integration of military values. The Nighthawks roster features a mix of traditional college students, military veterans, and reservists, creating an environment centered on discipline and leadership. This structure provides a pathway for students interested in future military service or paramilitary careers, offering the academic rigors of a university degree alongside the regimented character building of a service academy.

Head Coach Thomas Smith highlighted the impact both players had on the program’s turnaround, 'Sencear has been a big player for us. He has had an injury that kept him out, but he stepped up and really became a leader during that time,' Smith said. 'He worked his way back in and made a big impact for us. He is one of the strongest kids we have. I am excited for him to go there. He was trying to decide between the military or college and this offers him the best of both worlds.

'Culver was also looking at the military, but this school offered him both as well. He had a big senior year for us, setting the sack record with 15, and he really just grew up this season for us,' Smith said. 'He became a team leader, and really was vocal and helped push the guys. Thomas is getting two good ones in these guys.'

Marks

Marks, who plans to pursue a degree in criminal justice with the goal of joining the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, found the program to be the perfect middle ground, 'I feel great. I want to thank my family, my coaches, and my teammates for just keeping my head up, for pushing me to work through and to get to this point today,' Marks stated. 'All my teachers, the school, everyone had a part in this. I was going to go to the Marines first, but this is still an opportunity for me.'

His mother, Regina Butler, expressed relief and pride in seeing him reach this milestone after overcoming a significant knee injury, 'I am so excited for him. He had doubt from his knee injury that he wouldn't make it here, but he never gave up, and I'm so proud of him,' Butler added. 'This is a great opportunity for him. Just a happy day for us.'

Culver

Culver also weighed military service against college, ultimately finding that Thomas University offered the unique balance he was looking for. His senior campaign set a new single-season school record with 15 sacks. His father, Jason Culver Sr., watched the signing with pride, ''Just to see him grow up into the young man that he is today,' Culver Sr. stated. 'To graduate high school and head off to college, just excited and proud, just a happy dad today.”

Culver is eager to join the program and start the next chapter of his career, 'I feel good. Can't wait to get there and play, just get to work,' Culver said. 'I loved the weight room, the coaches were great and really treated me with respect. I want to thank Coach Smith of course, and all the other coaches as well, my family and my teammates.'

Sencear Marks – (L to R, Front): Dante Taylor (brother), Regina Butler (mother), Sencear Marks, Pete McRae (uncle), Keegan Hughes (brother); (Back): Coach Wesley Lowery,Sirus Marks (brother), Head Coach Thomas Smith, and Coach Drew Collins.Photo by Mike Branch