Centerville’s Kody Witham is surrounded by his family and Bulldogs Head Coach Kyle Padgett after announcing his decision to attend Wabash College and play football.
CENTERVILLE, Ind. – One of the Centerville football program’s most decorated players from last season is headed to Wabash College.
Kody Witham announced his intention on Thursday afternoon to attend the NCAA Div. III school located in Crawfordsville, Ind.
“I chose Wabash because of the brotherhood type atmosphere,” Witham said. “When you are on a football field it is an awesome feeling to know that 10 other guys have your back, now imagine that with a whole school.”
“Wabash is a special place,” Witham continued. “I can’t wait to immerse myself into the culture there and change for the better.”
A member of the North Coast Athletic Conference, the Little Giants finished 8-2 last fall under head coach Don Morel.
“In the past, they have been quite successful, so it is an exciting thought to know that I could be on a championship caliber team while I am there,” Witham said. “I think I get along with coaches really well and I intend to give it 110% and see where it takes me.”
“Every teammate I have met so far has been just like me,” Witham added. “They demand excellence there just like how Centerville is transforming to be. Our football program reminds me a lot of Wabash’s program and I think that is another factor that drew me there.”
Centerville Head Coach Kyle Padgett is thrilled with the decision by Witham, who is the all-time leader in tackles for the Bulldogs.
“It’s hard to put into words how ecstatic I am for Kody,” Padgett said. “For him to get to continue his football playing career at such a great academic institution like Wabash is just incredible.”
“Wabash has a long and storied football tradition and I know Kody is excited to be a part of it,” the Bulldog mentor added. “They are consistently a top team in D3 that recruits many of the top players in our region, so Kody is going to be competing with the best.”
The son of Mike and Angie Witham and Trish and Craig Persinger, the senior has his academic future also planned.
“I am planning to study pre-medicine in hopes of being an anesthesiologist one day,” Witham said. “I know of Wabash’s high academic standards, so I trust them to guide me on the right path to be successful in the future.”
The linebacker’s off-season began as he was named All-Tri-Eastern Conference. He was then honored as a member of the Associated Press Class 2A All-State Team and was selected by the Indiana Football Coaches Association as Academic All-State.
“I can say without hesitation that Kody is one of the smartest players and hardest workers I have ever been around,” Padgett said. “I know that his winning mindset and work ethic are going to transfer to the next level. I can’t wait to go watch him play the next four years.”
Over the last three years, Witham has led Centerville’s defense in tackles with 113 this season as the Bulldogs ended the year 7-3.
In his career, he had 404 stops with 23 coming behind the line of scrimmage. He also had a 36-yard interception for a touchdown during his junior year.
Offensively, Witham was third on the team in rushing yards with 288 as he added a career-high four touchdowns. He gained 941 yards in his career with seven scores, while catching 19 passes for 171 yards.
Witham also showed some versatility in 2017 with a punt return for 17 yards to go with a pair of kickoff returns for a 17.5-yard average.
In addition to football, Witham is in his third season of playing varsity basketball. He’s currently averaging 8.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs.