Mike Wright is a bit of a collegiate journeyman, suiting up for three different teams since 2020. However, none of the three earned his first commitment as a recruit.
Who did, and where did Wright play high school football?
Where Did Northwestern QB Mike Wright Play in High School?
Wright was born in Fayetteville, Ga., and played high school football at Woodward Academy in Atlanta. He started on the varsity team his sophomore year, but it wasn’t until his senior season that he began to receive national recognition.
That year, Wright received Region Offensive Player of the Year honors and made the All-Region first team after leading Woodward Academy to a 13-1 record and the Georgia 4A State Semifinals. Wright threw 2,653 passing yards, rushed for another 716, and scored a whopping 50 total touchdowns.
Wright actually committed to UCF in July prior to his prolific campaign, but once the dirt settled on the field and several other programs blew up his phone, he made the decision to flip … to Vanderbilt.
“At the end of the day, when you have the chance to go to the best conference in football, as well as play at the No. 15 school academically-wise in the nation, you can’t pass that opportunity up,” Wright said during his announcement.
Much like his high school career, Wright didn’t start his first game until his sophomore year, joining the first-team lineup for five of the final six contests. Although he only completed 53% of his passes, the Georgia native showcased his dual-threat ability, taking 91 carries for 373 yards and a score.
Wright earned team captain honors heading into the 2022 season, starting six games. He led the Vols to two wins in the first three games of the year and won another two in relief of an injured AJ Swann, defeating Kentucky and Florida. The victory over the Wildcats was actually Vanderbilt’s first over an SEC program since 2019.
Wright’s completion rate jumped to 57%, and he tossed 12 TDs to just four INTs. Wright also improved his efficiency as a rusher, generating 517 yards and five scores on 71 attempts.
After his career-best outing, Wright opted to enter the transfer portal for a new home.
After taking his recruiting to the deadline, he chose Mississippi State, keeping his talents in the SEC. He played in 12 games, starting three, completing 48 of 85 passes for 453 yards, three TDs, and three picks while posting a similar stat line on the ground: 71-324-4
Wright didn’t take the offseason off, competing on the Bulldogs’ track and field team in January 2024 as a member of the 4x200m relay team. However, after beginning spring ball at Mississippi State, he entered the portal once again, committing to Northwestern just a few weeks later.
As he emphasized during his commitment to Vanderbilt, academics play a key role in Wright’s life, making his decision to join David Braun’s squad in Evanston unsurprising.
Wright already had ties to the program, having taken an official visit to Northwestern in December 2019, and the Wildcats expressed interest again when he was in the portal before he signed with Mississippi State.
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From Georgia to Tennessee to Mississippi to Illinois, Wright’s football career has taken him across the United States. Now, at Northwestern, he has the opportunity to leverage his experience and leadership to help the Wildcats build on their impressive one-year turnaround last season (1-11 in 2022 to 8-5 in 2023), adding the last chapter to his well-traveled football journey.
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