Academic improvement has helped Singleton focus on the field

One of the reasons for Uriah Singleton's athletic success has been his academic failures.

Singleton arrived on the Northwood Academy campus in time for his sophomore year in 2007 after earning just one credit at his previous school. He went to summer school, and finally hit the books at Northwood Academy. He was ineligible for most of his sophomore football season, and finally got the academic green light in time for the final regular season game of the '07 season. He rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-0 victory over Robert E. Lee Academy.

He realized poor grades meant no sports and that he had to be a student to be an athlete. Since then, Singleton has never stopped running or studying. He has more than 5,000 career rushing yards and, more importantly, has made the grade in the classroom.

Chargers coach Jerry Stoots believes that success in the classroom translates to success on the athletic field, and vice versa, and he's watched Singleton improve his work ethic in both subjects.

"Kids who do well in the classroom know how to apply themselves when it comes to studying or playing sports," said Stoots, whose team enters tonight's SCISA Class AA playoff game at Thomas Sumter with a 9-2 record. "Uriah's done a great job, and so has his mother. She's been the driving force. She's helped provide tutors, study sessions and gave him encouragement when times were tough. He's doing better. He's still not there, but he's getting B's, and that's a lot better."

Singleton's mother, Viki Pittman, has watched her son climb the ladder in class rankings. And she's watched Uriah reach the top of the heap of SCISA football.

He finished with nearly 500 yards rushing as a sophomore, and broke through for 2,300 yards and 34 touchdowns last year to help the Chargers win their first SCISA state championship in five years of football history.

He was particularly impressive against Thomas Sumter. He rushed for 214 yards in the regular season and followed that up with 162 yards and three touchdowns in the state title game.

He's been a force this fall. He enters tonight's game with 2,267 yards and 40 scores. The running back credits his teammates for his success.

"It's the line," Singleton said. "I couldn't do it without my line. They are the ones who open the holes. I just run through them."

Singleton doesn't get the headlines that some of the High School League running backs get.

But it was a headline about another SCISA running back that Stoots used to challenge Singleton.

"There was a story in the newspaper about a kid who struggled academically and then transferred to Charleston Collegiate," Stoots said. "He ended up succeeding in the classroom and on the football field. We showed that article to Uriah and told him, 'Uriah, that could be you in two years.' "

Five thousand yards and two years later, Uriah Singleton has become a student-athlete.