By Andy Walter

Michael Credle never planned on being a small-college football player.

But when he transferred from Delaware State to Wesley College in 2018, he quickly found out that many of his new teammates thought they should be at a bigger program, too.

Credle said playing for the Wolverines was both humbling and inspiring.

“It was like a battle just within myself,” said the Glasgow High grad. “I’m trying to live up to the expectations but knowing that I’m not necessarily where I want to be or where I need to be. But those guys at Wesley, they felt the same way as me.

“Sometimes we were the ones having to carry the equipment or shovel the snow so we could practice — doing extra things that kids at Division I don’t necessarily have to do. Everybody on the team loved the game of football — to do whatever it takes to play. I definitely got a better appreciation of the game just being there.

“All those guys pushed me to be a better version of myself.”

Now, with one season of eligibilty still left in his pocket, the 23-year-old wide receiver wants to see if he can finally prove himself in Division I.

Credle announced recently that he’s planning to finish his playing career at the University of Delaware. After being out of school last spring, he has some academic credits to catch up on before he can be eligible at UD.

But Credle’s goal is to be in a Blue Hen uniform in the fall of 2024.

Credle said he’d been talking to former coach Danny Rocco’s staff just before they were let go last fall. He said quarterback Nolan Henderson helped him get his foot in the door with the new staff under coach Ryan Carty.

Henderson and Credle got to know each other when they played in the 2017 Blue-Gold All-Star Football Game.

“They watched my film, they liked what they saw,” Credle said about Delaware’s coaches.

Former Wesley College coach Chip Knapp said Credle was well on his way to becoming one of the Wolverines’ next standout receivers when the school closed in 2021.

In an NCAA Division III playoff win over Framingham State in 2019, the 6-foot, 195-pound Credle caught seven passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns. He finished that season with 29 catches for 420 yards and five touchdowns.

“He had a lot of positive energy,” said Knapp. “He was very coachable. He hadn’t yet reached his potential. He kind of fit the mold of a lot of our players that blossomed as a junior and senior. That’s the path he was on.

“He was a hard working guy. We felt good about his prospects and kind of put him into being that next top receiver coming back. But then everything happened with COVID and Wesley to put him on a totally different path.”

Last fall, Credle played for Division II Lincoln University. He caught a team-leading 32 passes for 395 yards and the struggling Lions’ only TD reception of the season.

Credle said he wanted something more than that.

Of course, getting on the field for Delaware won’t be easy. Credle is planning on taking 17 credits at UD this fall.

He’ll also keep working out at Titus Sports Academy in Wilmington and doing everything he can to be ready when his opportunity comes along.

“I plan on working like I’ve never worked before over the next year,” said Credle.

Even with everything that’s happened to sidetrack him, Credle said he never stopped believing in the dreams he had when he was young.

“It’s been COVID, redshirt ... I was able to keep working,” he said. “I kept my head down and kept believing in myself.

“When I had an injury or my school shut down, or even when I was at Lincoln, it was easy to sit and wallow in that hole. It’s really just having an unwavering belief and faith in myself.”

Sports editor Andy Walter can be reached at 302-741-8227 or walter@iniusa.org.
Follow on Twitter at @DSNSports.