MacArthur Highlander Commits to Oklahoma Baptist University

Highlander Caden Tahbonemah signed to play football at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) in Shawnee, Oklahoma on Friday, February 3, at MacArthur High School in Lawton, Oklahoma.

“It felt good,” he said. “Kind of a relief to get it over with because we’ve been planning it for about a week or so. It kind of kept getting pushed back and pushed back and pushed back. So, it’s off my shoulders now.”

Tahbonemah said he enjoyed the OBU football team.

“I came to the conclusion when I was making my decision that ‘no matter what, I’m going to play football,’” he said. “So that wasn’t the issue, it was just really trying to figure out the feel of all the people and the teammates and the coaches really. Just because I’m going to be away from home just having a group that I feel like I can rely on as mentors and for advice so that played a big role. And obviously the school, it’s a private school and I have a full-ride so I don’t have to worry about money so it’s just a great education.”

Tahbonemah said the university is an awesome spot because it shares his beliefs. It’s also a smaller school, which he enjoyed.

“A lot of bigger campuses are spread out and it’s kind of a long walk and while we were on the tour somebody said something about being able to make it all the way across campus in about five minutes and that’s awesome,” he said. “And…their classrooms are like 1 to maybe 20, so it’s smaller rooms and just a better connection with the professor.”

Tahbonemah said he might be playing tackle and hopefully will sport number 75.

“I’ll be jumping in around fall camp because I know they have spring ball and then just go straight into fall camp and right after fall camp, the season starts,” he said. “And to then on.”

Tahbonemah said he has confidence he’ll be a starter.

“It’s not for certain, but I mean I believe in myself to do so, in my opinion, yes,” he said. “But I’m the type of person to have fully 100 percent confidence in myself.”

Tahbonemah said some of his highlights began at the start of his high school career.

“Like Coach Manning said, I was a four-year starter and that’s something that’s something that really rarely happens and I was proud of myself and the legacy that I’m leaving here,” he said. “I mean I’m leaving knowing that I left everything that I have on the field in a McArthur jersey and you know I’m blessed to be carrying forward my career and just proud of everything I left behind here; and not sad about it.”

Tahbonemah said he wanted to do physical therapy because he had had two surgeries.

“I had two back surgeries in my career before and after my sophomore year and that was just a big part of who I am, I mean just being able to move on from that and you know setbacks happen,” he said. “And it’s all about the comeback and you know, how you finish. And I just want to be that person for somebody else.”

Tahbonemah said he is glad he found a place he’s 100 percent committed to.

“The future holds something special for me,” he said. “I know that I’ll be able to pursue the degree and career I want in college and I think they said something like 99 percent of their students get a job in their field within I think they said 5, 6 months.”