Greene County graduate and former Tigers’ football captain Arkiyus Wright strapped up the pads earlier this past Tuesday for the first day of Cumberland University’s fall camp.
The 5-foot-10 defensive back had to stand out and compete with more than 125 other players for recognition from the coaching staff.
As an incoming freshman, Wright told the Lake Oconee News before his first practice that he wasn’t homesick yet, but that he knew a lot of people back in Greensboro were supporting him.
“I recently texted with some of my former teammates back at Greene County. Johnny Kilpatrick, who was on the team last year, gave me some encouraging words when I talked to him,” Wright said. “Justin Hill, who’s a senior on the team this year, and Johnny Kilpatrick, all of them are my boys and are wishing me the best.”
Wright also acknowledged that he received some words of wisdom from some of the coaching staff at Greene County after his commitment ceremony, as well.
“I tried to talk to most of them before I left, but they all told me pretty much the same thing,” Wright said. “To go into fall camp with a positive mindset and show the coaches you want to work by being the first player at the front of the line. They just want me to give 110 percent every day I’m here.”
Wright, who was an All-Region player for Greene County his senior season, has been on Cumberland’s campus for a week now, and he’s settled in well.
He attributed the smooth transition to being in the same situation as most of the other students. “Moving up here has been chill, really. Everybody is really just trying to take the time to get to know everybody,” Wright said.
“It’s either people’s first time at the school as freshmen, or their first time back on campus as a returning student, so everyone is getting a feel of campus and its environment.”
In his final season with the Tigers, Wright racked up 53 tackles and four interceptions in the secondary.
With some of the skills to back it up, Wright believes he can use the next couple of weeks to put himself on the radar with Phoenix coaches and find himself high on the depth chart with hard work.
“I’m trying to be at the top of the depth chart everywhere I go,” Wright said. “I want to be at least in the top three spots, and to do that, I’m going to have to out-work everybody. It comes down to giving 110 percent every day and wanting to work.”