University of North Carolina Athletics
Godwin Opts for Baseball Only
August 6, 1999 | Football
August 20, 1999
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Tyrell Godwin, a rising junior at the University of North Carolina, will play baseball only this academic year. Godwin will not play football, a sport in which he competed for the Tar Heels in 1997 and 1998. He is attending Carolina on a Morehead Scholarship, the most prestigious academic grant awarded at the University.
"I have decided to devote all my attention to baseball," says Godwin. "After two years of college baseball and a summer with Team USA, I believe I will have an opportunity to play professional baseball sometime in the future. I appreciate the opportunities the coaches gave me to play both sports at North Carolina. I enjoyed my football career with the Tar Heels, although I feel I could have done a lot more if I had stayed healthy. It was frustrating to deal with the injuries that kept me off the field. "
The Council, N.C., native appeared in one football game in 1997. He returned five punts against Wake Forest, but sprained his knee in practice the following week and missed the rest of the season.
Last year, he played in seven football games. He set a school record by returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown at Stanford. Godwin sprained his right knee against Pittsburgh in October and saw action on just 27 snaps the rest of the year.
He played tailback and cornerback and practiced at wide receiver as a freshman. In 1998, he had nine rushing attempts for six yards and returned 12 kickoffs for 334 yards. He led the Atlantic Coast Conference in return average at 27.8 yards per return.
"I know this was a tough decision for Tyrell and I certainly wish him all the best," says head football coach Carl Torbush. "Tyrell has a bright future ahead of him in baseball, both for Coach Fox's team and down the road as a career. I think this is the best decision for him in light of the injuries he has endured his two years of football and in thinking of his potential to be an outstanding baseball player. We will miss his speed, of course, but wish him great success on the diamond and in pursuing his degree."
Godwin has played two seasons of college baseball. This past spring, he was named first-team All-ACC when he led the Tar Heels in batting (.371), stolen bases (29) and triples (five) and shared the lead in base hits (82). He also knocked in 58 runs and scored 56. Godwin led the ACC in steals and was second in triples and ninth in batting average. In his two-year collegiate career, he has hit .362 (110 for 304) with 11 home runs, seven triples, 21 doubles and 30 stolen bases.
This summer, Godwin started 34 of the 37 games he played in for the United States National Team. He hit .357 (46 for 129) with 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 22 runs batted in. He also stole nine bases in 13 attempts and had five outfield assists.
Godwin was selected in the first round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft by the New York Yankees, but did not sign a professional contract.
