The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIAN collegiate football player, Michael Cartwright, officially announced his intention to transfer and join the Virginia State University Trojans football programme.

In April, the redshirt freshman offensive lineman announced his intention to leave the North Carolina Central Eagles and enter the transfer portal following his two-year tenure with the programme.

“I just want to thank God for everything he’s done for me because without him none of this will be possible...I’ll be committing to Virginia State University. I would like to thank Coach Barlow [head coach Reggie Barlow] and Coach Watson [offensive line coach Trumaine Watson] for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m locked and ready to work. Let’s get it.”

The Virginia State University football team finished the 2020 season 8-2 and secured a spot in the NCAA Super Region 2 Playoff.

The 6’5 330 pound offensive lineman was a redshirt as a true freshman in 2019 and did not see time during the 2020 season.

“I just want to thank the NCCU family for making me feel so welcomed the past two years. I’ve made a lot of life lasting friendships and I’ve done things I’ve never thought I would’ve never done but I’ll never regret any moment of it. My time and experience at NCCU will last a lifetime. Thank you NCCU football for the opportunity you guys gave me when nobody else would.”

Carwright entered NCCU as a 3-star rated offensive tackle by 247Sports. He was selected the top performer at the Nike “The Opening” Combine in Miami, Florida. As a senior he was named to the Miami Herald’s All-Dade Class 5A Independent Football First Team with 65 pancake blocks. Champagnat won the 2017 Florida High School Athletic Association State Championships Class 2A State Championship and finished as runners up in 2019. In high school he was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, track and field). In basketball, averaged 12.6 points and 15 rebounds per game and In track and field, became Champagnat’s first multiple district champion in the shot put.

Prior to his senior season, Cartwright, re-entered the recruitment cycle when he de-committed from the University of Indiana Hoosiers in December 2018. He originally announced his commitment to join the Hoosiers last July but according to Cartwright, the second chance at recruitment gave him an opportunity to “re-evaluate everything and to make the best decision for me as a person, player and most importantly a student.”

Cartwright previously received offers from the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Kent State Golden Flash, UCF Knights, UAB Blazers, Georgia State Panthers, Temple Owls, UMass Minutemen, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Tulane Green Wave, FIU Golden Panthers, Marshall Thundering Herd, FAU Owls, Southern Mississippi Eagles, Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions and the Pittsburgh Panthers.