Former All-Informant standout inducted into an HBCU Athletic Hall of Fame Special from Information Arizona
Wayman Westbrooks, a multi-sport (football and basketball) All-Informant selection of the 1990’s was inducted into the Fayetteville State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame last weekend in North Carolina. Westbrooks, affectionately known as “Troop” was a two sport star at Maryvale HS where he garnered both 1st team All State and All Metro honors leading the Panthers to an 11-1 record his senior year while becoming the first wide receiver to gain over 1,000 yards in a season. Off the field, Westbrooks was a member of National Honor Society with a GPA of 3.5.
Westbrooks originally attended the University of Utah before transferring to the Valley’s Glendale Community College. At GCC, Westbrooks was one of the captains of the Gaucho’s 2000 National Junior College Championship team making another all conference selection. With an Associate Degree in general studies Westbrooks decided to continue his education at Fayetteville State.
At FSU, a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) founded in 1867 with the purpose of educating the recently freed enslaved people of southeastern North Carolina, Westbrook again excelled on the field and in the classroom. He was a co-captain on the Bronco’s first ever CIAA Championship football team (2002). It must be noted that before Westbrook, FSU could never get over the hump when facing arch rival Winston-Salem State University in football. Troop caught the winning touchdown in a four overtime thriller that finally gave the Broncos a victory over the Rams. FSU would advance to the conference’s (CIAA) championship game finally winning it all.
Wayman received conference honors each year. In 2002 he led the CIAA in touchdown receptions (10). He set the standard for career receptions at FSU (108). The Broncos defended their CIAA title in 2003 with Troop being instrumental in that team’s success. He would later join the coaching staff working with the wide receivers. Fayetteville State won their third CIAA Football Championship while he was on staff. (2009)
He was inducted with the FSU Athletic Hall of Fame Classes of 2020 and 2021 and was interview by the Informant’s sports writer/columnist G. Napier Barnes III.
Westbrooks received his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree (2004) from FSU. He has since obtained his Master’s Degree in Addiction Counseling from Grand Canyon University (2019). He is currently the Program Director for A Path of Resilience Behavioral Health.
He currently resides in the Valley with his two children Mireya and Jalen Westbrooks. Cutline. Fayetteville State University’s newest Athletic Hall of Famer, Wayman Westbrooks with the Informant’s G. Napier Barnes III at the HOF Banquet last week in North Carolina.
File Photo of Wayman Westbrooks (#81) after winning CIAA Football Championship (2002)