Mike Wright (quarterback)
{{Short description|American football player (born 2001)}}
{{distinguish|Mike Wright (defensive end)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox college football player
| embed =
| name = Mike Wright
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| school = Northwestern Wildcats
| currentnumber = 5
| currentposition = Quarterback
| class = Graduate Student
| major = Psychology
| pastschools =
- Vanderbilt (2020–2022)
- Mississippi State (2023)
- Northwestern (2024–present)
| bowlgames =
| highschool = Woodward Academy
(College Park, Georgia)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|9|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 195
| highlights =
| CFBHOF_id =
| CFBHOF_year =
| module =
| espn = 4433932
| cbs =
| si =
| yahoo =
| rivals =
}}
Michael Wright Jr. (born September 28, 2001) is an American football quarterback for the Northwestern Wildcats. Wright previously played for the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
High school career
Wright attended Woodward Academy in College Park, Georgia. As a senior, Wright recorded 2,653 passing yards, 716 rushing yards, and fifty total touchdowns.{{Cite web |last=Paschall |first=David |date=2022-08-05 |title=QB Mike Wright looking to be right man for Vandy's ascension |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2022/aug/05/wright-looking-be-right-mvandys-ascension/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Chattanooga Times Free Press |language=en}} As a result, he was named region 4-AAAA player of the year.{{Cite web |last=Holcomb |first=Todd |date=December 6, 2019 |title=All-region teams: Woodward's Wright named 4-AAAA player of the year |url=https://www.ajc.com/blog/high-school-sports/all-region-teams-woodward-wright-named-aaaa-player-the-year/lVKbFdKBtuvGw7l1qpfNdN/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English}} A three-star recruit, Wright originally committed to UCF before flipping his commitment to play college football at Vanderbilt University.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-18 |title=Atlanta athletes put pen to paper on National Signing Day |url=https://www.fox5atlanta.com/sports/atlanta-athletes-put-pen-to-paper-on-national-signing-day |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=FOX 5 Atlanta |language=en-US}}
College career
= Vanderbilt =
Wright played sparingly as a freshman in 2020, before being named Vanderbilt's backup, behind Ken Seals, entering the 2021 season.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-31 |title=Seals named Vandy starting QB; Wright to play |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/32120897/ken-seals-named-vanderbilt-starting-qb-mike-wright-play-too |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Gerson |first=Aria |title=Vanderbilt football names Ken Seals starting quarterback for opener vs. ETSU |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2021/08/31/ken-seals-named-vanderbilt-football-starting-quarterback-opener-etsu-clark-lea/5662865001/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} After an injury to Seals, Wright made his first career start against South Carolina, throwing for 206 yards and a touchdown in a 21–20 defeat.{{Cite web |last=Gray |first=Nick |title=Vanderbilt football QB Mike Wright will make first career start vs. South Carolina |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2021/10/16/vanderbilt-football-mike-wright-quarterback-first-start-south-carolina-gamecocks/8489912002/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=How Vanderbilt football's Mike Wright preformed against South Carolina |url=https://www.tennessean.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennessean.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2Fvanderbilt%2F2021%2F10%2F19%2Fmike-wright-vanderbilt-commodores-football-quarterback-stats-south-carolina-mississippi-state%2F8473261002%2F |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=www.tennessean.com}} He finished the season passing for 1,042 yards, eight touchdowns, and six interceptions, while also rushing for 373 yards and a touchdown.{{Cite news |last=Rexrode |first=Joe |title=Vanderbilt's Mike Wright needs a word limit, but 'the belief he brings' is limitless |url=https://theathletic.com/3529590/2022/08/25/vanderbilt-mike-wright-quarterback/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Athletic |language=en}} Entering the 2022 season, Wright was named the week one starter.{{Cite web |last=Gerson |first=Aria |title=Clark Lea's quarterback decision makes Mike Wright the face of Vanderbilt football |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2022/07/19/why-clark-lea-named-mike-wright-vanderbilt-football-starting-quarterback/10073938002/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} In the first game of the season against Hawaii, he contributed four total touchdowns, while passing for 146 yards and adding another 163 yards rushing, in a 63–10 victory.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-28 |title=Vanderbilt, led by QB Mike Wright, obliterates Hawaii 63-10 |url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/vanderbilt-football/vanderbilt-led-by-qb-mike-wright-obliterates-hawaii-63-10/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Saturday Down South |language=en-US}} The following week against Elon, Wright set a school record for total touchdowns in a game with six total, four passing and two rushing.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Teresa |date=2022-09-04 |title=Wright scores school record 6 TDs as Vandy beats Elon 42-31 |url=https://www.wsmv.com/2022/09/04/wright-scores-school-record-6-tds-vandy-beats-elon-42-31/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Wsmv.com |language=en}} However, after a poor showing by Wright against Wake Forest, he would be benched in favor of freshman AJ Swann.{{Cite web |last=Gerson |first=Aria |title=Vanderbilt football quarterback AJ Swann leads TD drive after Mike Wright benched vs. Wake Forest |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2022/09/10/vanderbilt-football-quarterback-mike-wright-benched-vs-wake-forest-aj-swann/8050315001/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}} Against Kentucky, he threw for 184 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 126 yards and a touchdown, leading Vanderbilt to a 24–21 win and being named SEC Offensive Player of the Week.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-11-15 |title=Vanderbilt Quarterback Mike Wright Named SEC Offensive Player of the Week |url=https://williamsonsource.com/vanderbilt-quarterback-mike-wright-named-sec-offensive-player-of-the-week/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Williamson Source |language=en-US}} Wright continued to split time with Swann throughout the season, before announcing at the seasons end that he would enter the transfer portal.{{Cite web |title=Mike Wright's legacy? Leading Vanderbilt football through some of its darkest days {{!}} Estes |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2022/12/06/mike-wright-transfer-portal-vanderbilt-football/69694036007/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Michael |date=2022-12-05 |title=Vandy loses QB Wright, RB Davis, others to transfer portal |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/vandy/vandy-loses-qb-wright-rb-davis-others-to-transfer-portal/article_da193a78-74be-11ed-9a0a-dbad4924ec3c.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Nashville Post |language=en}}
= Mississippi State =
On January 22, 2023, Wright announced that he would be transferring to Mississippi State University to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.{{Cite web |last=DeRosa |first=Theo |date=2023-01-22 |title=Mississippi State football lands Vanderbilt transfer quarterback Mike Wright |url=https://cdispatch.com/sports/mississippi-state-football-lands-vanderbilt-transfer-quarterback-mike-wright/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Dispatch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Michael |date=2023-01-24 |title=Former Vandy QB Wright announces transfer destination |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/vandy/former-vandy-qb-wright-announces-transfer-destination/article_b9a430be-9b91-11ed-9ab1-d3979e7b9c5d.html |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=Nashville Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Mississippi State football lands transfers in Vandy QB Mike Wright, Freddie Roberson |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2023/01/22/mississippi-state-football-mike-wright-freddie-roberson-transfer-portal-zach-arnett-kevin-barbay/69830358007/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}} Entering the season, Wright was named the backup to Will Rogers. Wright would receive his first amount of significant playing time with Mississippi State after an injury to Rogers against Western Michigan. He threw for 57 yards and ran for 24 yards and a touchdown in the 41–28 win.{{Cite web |title=Mike Wright shines, Will Rogers injured in Mississippi State football win vs Western Michigan |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2023/10/07/mississippi-state-football-score-western-michigan-will-rogers-injury-mike-wright-zach-arnett/71025889007/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}} Following a bye week, Wright made his first start with Mississippi State, combining for 145 yards and a touchdown in a 7–3 triumph over Arkansas.{{Cite web |last=Low |first=Chris |date=2023-10-21 |title=With Rogers out, Wright helps MSU to 7-3 win |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38709317/sources-mississippi-state-qb-rogers-mike-wright-start |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Krajisnik |first=Stefan |date=October 22, 2023 |title=Can Mississippi State football keep winning with QB Mike Wright? Yes, if its more aggressive |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2023/10/22/mississippi-state-football-mike-wright-arkansas-pro-football-focus-grades-defense-zach-arnett/71170561007/ |access-date=2023-10-30 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}} He finished the season throwing for 453 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to rushing for 324 yards and three touchdowns, before entering the transfer portal for a second time.{{Cite web |last=Leuzzi |first=John |title=Mississippi State QB Mike Wright enters transfer portal after one year with Bulldogs |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/college/mississippi-state/2024/04/22/mike-wright-transfer-mississippi-state-bulldogs-football-vanderbilt/73416495007/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=The Clarion-Ledger |language=en-US}}
= Northwestern =
On May 9, 2024, Wright announced that he would be transferring to Northwestern University to play for the Northwestern Wildcats.{{Cite web |last=Thamel |first=Pete |date=2024-05-09 |title=Veteran QB Wright commits to Northwestern |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/40111967/veteran-qb-mike-wright-commits-play-northwestern |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||||||||||||
| rowspan="2"| Season
! colspan="3"| Games ! colspan="8"| Passing ! colspan="5"| Rushing | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | Avg | TD | Int | Rate | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |
| colspan="16" style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Vanderbilt Commodores}}"| Vanderbilt Commodores | |||||||||||||||
| 2020
|6 |0 |0−0 |6 |10 |60.0 |51 |5.1 |1 |1 |115.8 |14 |15 |1.1 |1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2021
| 10|| 5 || 0−5 || 93|| 175|| 53.1|| 1,042|| 6.0|| 8|| 6|| 111.4|| 91|| 373|| 4.1|| 1 | |||||||||||||||
| 2022
| 10|| 6|| 4−2|| 85 || 148 || 57.4 || 974 || 6.6|| 12|| 4 || 134.1|| 71 || 571|| 7.3|| 5 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="16"style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Mississippi State Bulldogs}}"| Mississippi State Bulldogs | |||||||||||||||
| 2023
| 12|| 3 || 1−2 || 48 || 85 || 56.5 || 453 || 5.3 || 3 || 3 || 105.8 || 71 || 324 || 4.6 || 3 | |||||||||||||||
| colspan="16"style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Northwestern Wildcats}}"| Northwestern Wildcats | |||||||||||||||
| 2024
| 3 || 2 || 1−1 || 38 || 66 || 57.6 || 354 || 5.4 || 0 || 1 || 99.6 || 18 || 84 || 4.7 || 1 | |||||||||||||||
| [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-wright-8.html Career] | 41 | 16 | 6−10 | 270 | 484 | 55.8 | 2,874 | 5.9 | 24 | 15 | 115.8 | 265 | 1,313 | 5.0 | 11 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://vucommodores.com/roster/mike-wright-2/ Vanderbilt Commodores bio]
- [https://hailstate.com/sports/football/roster/mike-wright/10108 Mississippi State Bulldogs football bio]
- [https://hailstate.com/sports/track-and-field/roster/mike-wright/10971 Mississippi State Bulldogs track & field bio]
- [https://nusports.com/sports/football/roster/mike-wright/11794 Northwestern Wildcats bio]
{{Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback navbox}}
{{Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback navbox}}
{{Northwestern Wildcats quarterback navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wright, Mike}}
Category:Players of American football from Georgia (U.S. state)
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Woodward Academy alumni
Category:Vanderbilt Commodores football players
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs football players
Category:Mississippi State Bulldogs men's track and field athletes