Football -- CBA's Hemmingway inks LOI

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on February 8, 2018 5:53 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock senior running back Michael Hemmingway, known for his leadership in the huddle and powerful bursts between the tackles, signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday to continue his football career this fall at St. Andrews University, an NAIA school located in Laurinburg.

The 5-foot-9, 200-pound runner -- who split time in the CBA backfield this past season with sophomore Tae Jackson -- is expected to contribute right away for the Knights, who finished their inaugural gridiron campaign in 2017 with an overall mark of 2-8 (1-5 Mid-South Conference).

"(The St. Andrews staff) just told me they need my power, just want me to be powerful through the hole," Hemmingway said, following a low-key ceremony in the school's gymnasium. "Those three, four yards they need -- that's what I can do."

Which is exactly what his current coach, Steve Brooks, anticipates will happen -- in short order.

"He is a guy that's tough, that cares," Brooks said of his star. "I think when he gets there, they'll realize how hard of a worker he is... and I think that's the main reason that he is being recruited where he is, because of  his willingness to do whatever it takes to win -- that's all he cares about. Winning. He doesn't care who gets the credit, he just wants to win."

And in a program that rushed the ball an average of 45 times per contest last season, Hemmingway will have ample opportunity to do just that.