Former Wash High standout McKenzie transfers to Hampton
Former Washington High School football standout Shai McKenzie has found a new home for the next two years after transferring from Virginia Tech following his graduation earlier this summer.
McKenzie, a former standout running back at Washington High School, decided to stay in the state of Virginia to play at Hampton University, a member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in the Football Championship Series.
The 5-11, 215-pound McKenzie is eligible to play this season and will have one more season of eligibility, if he chooses to use it.
After a promising start during his freshman season at Virginia Tech, McKenzie’s role diminished after suffering a torn knee ligament in the fifth game of the 2014 season. He was second on the Hokies in rushing prior to the injury with 269 yards.
He was limited his sophomore season because of the lingering effects of the injury, ultimately taking a medical redshirt.
McKenzie will be looking to an already full backfield of senior Yahkee Johnson and redshirt junior Eric Carter. Johnson had 135 carries for 831 yards and four touchdowns, and Carter finished with 528 yards on 102 carries and five scores. The Pirates rushed for nearly 127 yards per game last season.
McKenzie was the 2012 Observer-Reporter Player of the Year after rushing for 2,689 yards and scoring 41 touchdowns to lead the Prexies to the WPIAL Class AA championship game. McKenzie was sidelined for the majority of his senior season with a knee injury, only playing 10 quarters but he averaged 18.1 yards per carry.
Hampton opens its season Sept. 2 at Ohio. The Pirates are coming off a 5-6 season.