BAY MINETTE — Former coaches and government officials will join family and friends of football star Wallace Gilberry during ceremonies Friday at 2:15 p.m. at the Baldwin County High School auditorium.

The Baldwin County Commission adopted a resolution Tuesday naming Jan. 18 as “Wallace Gilberry Day” which will be presented to Gilberry during the ceremonies.

The 2003 BCHS graduate recently received a degree in communications from the University of Alabama after excelling academically and as an outstanding defensive end for the Crimson Tide.

Gilberry will play in the 2008 Senior Bowl Jan. 26 in Mobile.

He was selected a first-team All-SEC player in 2007 and was named a semifinalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, presented annually to the nation’s best defensive end.

Gilberry received the UA Outstanding Defensive Performer Award and was named Alabama’s co-defensive player of the year for 2007 and now faces the prospect of a career in professional football.