Caden Tahbonemah Transfers to Northeastern State University

Offensive lineman Caden Tahbonemah has transferred to Northeastern State University (NSU) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, from Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

He said trust and communication were the main factors in leaving OBU.

“And then just my belief in the system or the program and the coaches just wasn't where it needed to be, and I felt like it was time for a change,” Tahbonemah said.

However, he will continue his studies in physical therapy. 

“So, it'll probably just be like I'll get my undergrad…whatever the study is, and then I'll go to a graduate school like I don't know OSU, OU, Baylor,” Tahbonemah said. “I know Baylor has a really good physical therapy program.”

Off-season workouts at NSU will be in January, and his debut will be sometime in the early fall.

“It feels good…mainly just the trust and belief part of it what could mean is obviously mainly the reason I left,” Tahbonemah said. “I think these coaches are brutally honest, which I think in this industry you need to be. Because, I mean, you know when you're telling some players different things, and you know you don't follow your word or whatever it is makes you look bad. And I think these coaches are really honest, and it's a great community culturally.”

He said he’s excited because it’s a different conference and different teams.

“I want to be all-conference all-American if God willing,” Tahbonemah said. “I think those are just the main things, and obviously, I want my team to be great.”

As for his support throughout the transfer process…

“Obviously God, you know, praying for, you know, for him to give me wisdom and throughout this process, but definitely my mom,” Tahbonemah said. “…She’s always been there for me no matter what it may be, but through this process…she was a high school basketball coach for 10 years, so I mean, she knows her way around things coaching wise. And on visit, she asks the right questions. She's an advocate for me, obviously, and she was able to raise me as a mom. But also, you know, mold me into the perfect athlete for a coach. So…I'm really thankful for her. I think she's definitely, you know, the biggest besides God; she's definitely the biggest backbone for me.”

He said the coaches are planning on playing in the N7 Game.