Written by Wes Mayberry (Otterbein Athletics)
WESTERVILLE, Ohio – For someone who doesn’t focus on personal stats and individual accolades, Justin Bartlett has found a way to rack up both. The Otterbein University senior has shined both on the football field and in the classroom during his three-plus years as a Cardinal, showcasing why he has been selected as the Ohio Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Month for September.
“This recognition is a great honor to me. It really accentuates what I’ve done here and shows that other people are recognizing what we’re doing on the football field,” Bartlett said. “I just happen to be one of many guys that could’ve gotten this award.”
Now in its 27th year, the award honors an exceptional student-athlete on a monthly basis, with each of the OAC’s 10 institutions receiving an assigned month of the academic year. Criteria consists of being at least a sophomore in academic standing and preferably competing in a sport that is in season in addition to sportsmanlike conduct and carrying a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
A native of Cambridge, Ohio, and graduate of Cambridge High School, the ever-humble Bartlett has no shortage of academic and athletic achievements he could brag about. He simply chooses not to.
“I’m not really award driven, and I don’t really check my stats. I’m just grateful for any award I get,” he said. “I just strive to do my best in everything I do and then see what success comes with that.”
The 6-foot, 220-pound defensive lineman has been a key piece of the Cardinals’ defense since his sophomore year and even started six games as a freshman. Academically, he boasts a 3.74 cumulative GPA majoring in exercise science and health promotion with a minor in nutrition and hopes to pursue a career in cardiac and pulmonary rehab upon graduation. Being successful in both athletics and academics has required Bartlett to hone his time-management skills, which he knows will serve him well later in life.
“Football takes up a lot of time, and school takes up the rest of my time. So I just have to keep myself on pace and stay driven,” he said. “I always give 100% no matter what I’m doing because I know I’m working toward a bigger goal. There’s life after Otterbein, and that’s why I have to stay focused and try my best in everything I do.”
Bartlett came to Otterbein in 2021 following a high school career as a three-sport athlete in wrestling, track and field and football. While he had a familial connection to wrestling, football won out when it came to what sport he wanted to pursue at the collegiate level.
“Football is by far my favorite sport,” he said. “My dad coached me in wrestling, and I know he would’ve loved it if I would’ve wrestled in college. But he is very supportive of my football career, and that’s the sport I’m best at anyways.”
Having decided on football, Bartlett says he was lightly recruited out of high school. A few OAC schools reached out expressing interest, and Otterbein clearly stood out among them.
“The coaching staff that was here really brought me in. What kept me around was all the teammates I had,” he said. “They made me feel like I was part of a family rather than just a player on a football team.”
Other programs are likely now wishing that they had added Bartlett to their roster. He played in eight games as a freshman, starting six, and recorded 16 tackles (11 solo) and two sacks. As a sophomore in 2022, he started all 10 games and finished the season ranked fifth in the OAC in tackles (88) and ninth in tackles for loss (11) while adding three sacks. Those numbers helped earn him Honorable Mention All-OAC recognition.
The success only grew from there, as Bartlett transitioned to the edge rusher position as a junior last season and was named D3football.com Third Team All-Region and Honorable Mention All-OAC. He started all 10 games yet again and recorded 77 tackles while ranking second in the OAC in tackles for loss (19.5) and sixth in sacks (6). His 19.5 tackles for loss rank third all-time at Otterbein for a single season. Bartlett was recognized as a standout in the classroom as well, earning College Sports Communicators Academic All-District and Academic All-OAC honors.
Now early in his senior season as a team captain, Bartlett described Otterbein as the perfect place for him to pursue his academic and athletic interests while being surrounded by great people.
“Academically, there are lots of opportunities here at Otterbein. The professors here are very nice and easygoing and help me out if I ever have any problems. I never have any doubts that I could go to any of the professors here and ask them for help,” he said. “And the guys on the football team make it feel like a family rather than just a football team. I love being around them, and I’m thankful they voted me as a captain. They thought I was worthy of it, and I like to see myself as someone they can lean on whenever they have a problem. I had that for me when I came here, and now I want my teammates to be able to lean on me for anything they need.”
Bartlett opened his senior campaign with a standout performance at Ohio Wesleyan on Sept. 7 with team-highs of 10 total tackles and two tackles for loss in his 29th career game. In 30 games at Otterbein, he has racked up 189 tackles, including 74 solo, to go with 36 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He ranks fifth all-time at Otterbein in tackles for loss and needs just five more sacks to move into fifth all-time in that category. But his biggest goal for the year has nothing to do with statistics.
“Hopefully we can come out with a winning season, but I’m just hoping to have a fun time here with school and football,” he said.
After all, he wants to be remembered for something greater than his stats.
“I want to be remembered as one of those guys who someone could always come to and one of the top leaders here and a role model for others,” he said. “I don’t necessarily need stats to show how great I was here. I want people to know how hard I worked and serve as an example of what you can achieve if you put all your heart into it.”
