Martavius Cardwell is no stranger to football. He has been playing since he was 6 or 7.
Cardwell, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound defensive back from Flint, is a senior for Eastern Michigan University and wears No. 6.
He has played in 19 games and has started 17 with 151 tackles, two sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and two fumble returns on his career.
“Growing up I always wanted to be like my older brother,” Cardwell said. “He played football when he was growing up, and I just developed a love for the game of football.”
He also loves football because it can teach many things about life and how to work as a team. Chemistry, making friendships and finding common ground — those are key components of working together and becoming a football team that is capable of doing major things. It is also the reason why Cardwell came to EMU.
“I love the group of people who are here at Eastern,” Cardwell said. “I developed some good relationships with quite a few guys. We all bond together pretty good. There’s no super egos on the team, we just jell together as one.”
In the same manner, his teammates speak highly of Cardwell.
“He brings a lot of strength and intelligence to the team,” wide receiver Trey Hunter said. “The best quality of his off of the field that translates on the field for him (Cardwell) would be his humor.”
Cardwell graduated from Carman-Ainsworth High School in Flint, where he received honors of all-conference selection in his senior year, recording seven interceptions, 62 tackles.
As a quarterback, he rushed for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns, earning him a spot as an honorable mention for the all-state team.
Cardwell not only admits to his teammates being one the reasons he chose EMU but also shows them on a day-to-day basis what they mean to him.
“He’s really about his friends and teammates, if you need him he’ll be there,” Hunter said.
In his spare time, Cardwell enjoys playing video games and also likes to play a few songs on the piano.
“I can play the piano and sing pretty well,” Cardwell said.
Cardwell sat out his freshman season in 2007 as a redshirt; his sophomore season he practiced but did not play.
In his junior season, Cardwell started 11 times, was second among team leaders that season with 105 tackles, had two forced fumbles and one interception.
He missed five games in his senior season in 2010 due to an injury but started the last six and finished fifth on the team in tackles with 46. He also forced one fumble and had one fumble return.
In the Eagles’ contest against Akron on Oct. 1, Cardwell suffered an injury on the first kickoff return of the afternoon and has not been seen on the field since.
So far this season, Cardwell has two tackles.
