Michael Wright Jr. Receives Touchdown Club Award

At the end of each season the Touchdown Club honors one of the players with the “Bob Commings Memorial Hardnose Award.”  That player would have received the most votes from among weekly tallies taken by the club members.  Past players honored include John Mulbach (Ohio State), David Whitfield (Ohio State), Chris Spielman (Ohio State), Shawn Crable (Michigan), Brian Gamble (Illinois/Ashland) and Dorian Pringle (Bowling Green).

Bob Commings was a very successful coach for the Tigers from 1969 to 1973, compiling a record of 43-6-2, including Massillon’s last state poll championship (1970) and a qualification for Ohio’s first ever state playoff games (1972). Commings departed following the 1973 season to become head coach of the University of Iowa and later coached at GlenOak High School, for which their field was later named.

This year’s Hardnose Award winner is Michael Wright Jr., the Tiger defensive nose tackle who led his team to an 11-3 record and a spot in the playoff regional finals.

It didn’t take long for Wright to become a Tiger varsity starter, as his knack for disrupting opposing team’s offenses early in his freshmen season did not go unnoticed by the coaches.  In fact, his career on the frosh team lasted all of two games.  And once moved to varsity he quickly became a starter, and thereafter always demanded a double-team from opposing offenses.  Head Coach Nate Moore looked back on Mike’s 4-year career and recalled his level of athleticism and football prowess as key factors in the move.  Then, over the last four years he marveled at his growth both on and off the field.  Moore believes that Wright will be remembered as one of the best defensive linemen to ever suit up for the Tigers.

During his four years of varsity ball Wright posted the following numbers:

• Freshman – 26 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss for 21 yards lost and 2.5 sacks for 16 lost yards.
• Sophomore – 36 tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss for 73 yards lost and 6 sacks for 43 lost yards.
• Junior – 36 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss for 96 yards lost and 10.5 sacks (all-time record) for 76 lost yards (all-time record)
• Senior – 47 tackles, 15.5 tackles-for-loss for 68 yards lost and 4 sacks for 27 lost yards.

His record-setting career numbers are as follows:

• 145 tackles
• 48.5 tackles-for-loss (all-time record)
• 258 lost yards from tackles-for-loss (all-time record)
• 23 sacks (all-time record)
• 162 lost yards from sacks (all-time record)

He also had 3 tackles-for-loss against Middletown, DE, in 2022 and 3 sacks against Canton McKinley in 2023.  He ends his career with a team record of 50-8 and a Division II state championship.  He was also named 1st Team All-Ohio in 2023 and will mostly receive that same honor this year.  Next year he plans to play for Youngstown State University.

The guest speakers at the event were Glen Weirich, a Hardnose Award winner in 1971, and Bob Commings Jr., son of Bob Sr., for whom the award was named.  The trophy was presented to Wright by Commings.

Congratulations to Michael Wright Jr.

(l-r) Dad Michael Sr., Michael Jr., mom Alicia, Touchdown Club Chairman George Mizer and Head Coach Nate Moore.