NorthWood senior Veshon Malone has chosen Manchester University to continue his football and academic career. InkFreeNews file photo by Mike Deak

By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews

NAPPANEE – The talent pipeline from the area will continue to flow to Manchester University. The latest signee for the Spartans is NorthWood speedster Veshon Malone, who announced his college football intentions via social media.

Malone was one of the unsung heroes for NorthWood’s 2019 season. The senior captain had just 23 carries for 128 yards, but between the rushes and his two catches, Malone scored four touchdowns. Defensively, Malone had 39 total tackles and 1.5 sacks to help the Black Crunch to a 7-4 record. Malone was chosen as an All-Northern Lakes Conference performer.

As impressive is Malone’s work in the classroom, where he is a 3.7 GPA student, is a member of the National Honor Society and has attained Scholar Athlete and Principal’s Honor Roll status. Malone earned Dean’s and 21st Century Scholar scholarships.

Malone also would have been a track and field performer for the fourth season this spring.

Malone noted his selection of Manchester because its “A small school with a great education and a cultured football program.” He also added to future NorthWood athletes, “Take advantage of every practice, game, workout, or moment spent with teammates, as those memories will highlight your high school career, which goes by all too fast.”

Manchester recently signed a pair of local football stars in Austin Baker of Wawasee and Harry Johnston of TIppecanoe Valley.

Manchester, led by fourth-year head coach Nate Jensen, finished off a 4-6 campaign and a 3-4 mark in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Spartans averaged nearly 27 points per game and rushed for over 233 yards per game.

Malone plans to major in exercise science.