After it seemed like he was going to play his senior year in Florida, NiTareon Tuggle announced the day before practices began that he’d be returning to the NorthWood football team.
The decision proved to be huge for the Panthers, as Tuggle would go on to lead the state of Indiana in receiving yards, putting on a dazzling display every time he played.
Due to his individual success this fall, Tuggle has been named the 2023 South Bend Tribune Football Player of the Year.
Column: NorthWood football team inspires next generation of Panthers players
Tuggle had a strong junior campaign for NorthWood, catching 40 passes for 792 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also had two rushing touchdowns, two passing scores and one punt return for a touchdown as the Panthers went 11-1, falling short in the Class 4A, Sectional 18 championship game to Northridge.
Tuggle’s play on the field caught the attention of colleges across the country. After picking up some offers from midsized Division-I programs, larger powerhouses of college football started extending scholarship offers to Tuggle in the spring. One of those schools was Georgia, the two-time defending national champions.
H.S. polls: NorthWood boys open as No. 1 in 3A AP hoops poll; Marian, St. Joe in top 10.
A week after the Bulldogs offered, Tuggle announced his commitment on social media.
With his stock rising, an opportunity came along for Tuggle to transfer to IMG Academy, a perennial powerhouse in high school football based in Bradenton, Florida. Tuggle announced the move in late April, seemingly ending his time at NorthWood.
Things changed late in the summer, though, and on July 30, Tuggle posted on social media that he’d be returning to the Panthers’ football team.
“Life is full of twists and turns that we cannot anticipate until they actually happen,” said Tuggle on social…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/northwoods-tuggle-named-2023-south-100207886.html
Author : South Bend Tribune
Publish date : 2023-12-06 10:02:07
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