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In perhaps one of the more stranger twists to come out of the cancellation of the Bowling Green baseball team (which has since been reinstated after a major fundraising drive,) one of the players who hit the transfer portal has found a new home in UTEP— as a football player.
Malewitz announced the shocking decision on social media Monday afternoon, thanking the former staff at BGSU and applauding the efforts of alumni in bringing the program back.
To a new chapter #picksup⛏ @CoachDimelUTEP @coachcanales @CoachWally pic.twitter.com/VidPOut8pW
— Mike Malewitz (@malewitz_7) June 8, 2020
Mike Malewitz, a true sophomore, was a contributor to the Falcons baseball team as a freshman infielder, playing in 37 games (with 28 starts), averaging .233 with 27 hits, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored. He was expected to be a regular starter in the 2020 season prior to the program’s shutdown.
Malewitz, who stands at five-foot-10, 178 lbs., was a three-sport athlete coming out of East Grand Rapids High School in Michigan, captaining all three on his way to picking up 10 varsity letters in baseball, football and hockey.
He had no 247Sports recruit profile coming out of high school, making him an unranked prospect.
Malewitz is on the shorter end of the quarterback spectrum, but his athletic ability cannot be denied. The youngest of three brothers (who also lettered in three sports each), Mike’s last season playing football saw him throw for 10 touchdowns and run for 15 touchdowns, leading EGR to a 9-0 record heading into the Michigan state playoffs, ultimately inviting to the East-West All-Star Game at Comerica Park.
He excelled in running the read option, and had a fairly impressive deep arm, as his Hudl package shows here:
In an interview with MLive, Malewitz said UTEP will try him out at quarterback and slot receiver on the gridiron to start— and also said he expressed interest in returning to baseball, should UTEP revive the long-dormant program again.
UTEP is in the midst of a rebuilding process after going 1-11 (0-8 C-USA) in 2019 under then second-year coach Dana Dimel, and currently carry four quarterbacks on their spring roster. The passing offense, led primarily by Brandon Jones and Kai Locklsley, was one of the worst in the country, picking up nine touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2019, with both QB’s graduating this offseason.