11/5/2026 5:00:00 PM | Football
Mekhi Ashby is a junior running back for the Millersville football season, and is taking on a heavy workload, ranking among the PSAC leaders in carries and yards. His career performance last Saturday helped the Marauders to a win at Lackawanna. In this episode, he talks about his growth as a person on and off the field, working through the offseason coaching change, and overcoming a season-ending injury in high school. This episode is also available with video on YouTube, Spotify and the On Deck website.
When Mekhi Ashby walked into the locker room Saturday evening, he could feel the weight lift off everyone's shoulders. Millersville football had finally broken through. After weeks of close calls and near-misses, the Marauders secured a long-awaited win — and Ashby was at the heart of it.
"It feels good," Ashby said. "Kind of what I expected. I put a lot of work in the offseason, a lot of team preparation. Our coaches are doing a great job executing what needs to be done, and it was kind of something we expected coming into the game."
His performance was the kind that makes teammates believe and coaches trust. Ashby carried the ball 34 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns, the most carries by a Millersville running back since 2018. He powered through defenders in the closing minutes, running out the clock and sealing the win. The moment was bigger than just a stat line — it was a turning point for a young offense that needed someone to lean on.
A Lion's Mindset
When the game tightened late, everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going. Ashby embraced it. "It's just a lion mindset," he said. "Just gotta go do what I gotta do. I know the line's gonna do what they have to do. Putting my trust and faith in them, following my path — I knew everything was going to go right."
Those final six minutes showcased the runner he's become. Ashby broke off gains of 14 and 16 yards, lowered his shoulder, and refused to go down on first contact. "I never wanted to be a power back," he admitted with a laugh. "That was just not my style of play, but I kind of just fell into it. I put on good weight, got stronger, and I guess you could say that now."
The transformation is obvious. Since arriving at Millersville, Ashby has added 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, tipping the scale around 210 pounds, sometimes up to 215. "I wanted to have great size but also keep my speed and be able to dominate," he said. That balance — strength to finish runs and burst to hit creases — has turned him into the offense's workhorse.
A New Era and a New Role
The win meant even more because it was head coach Drew Folmar's first at Millersville. Ashby concedes that he and Folmar didn't click immediately when the new staff arrived in the spring, but the junior running back is the first to admit it was a lesson in maturity. "We have a great relationship now," Ashby said. "At first, I just had to grow up a little bit. He kept me on the right path, and I appreciate him for that."
The transition wasn't easy. Millersville's offense has changed each of the past three seasons, and learning another system took time. "It was tough at first," Ashby said. "There was a lot to learn, but with Coach Folmar coming in the spring, giving me pointers, it definitely helped me adapt quicker."
There wasn't a meeting where coaches told Ashby he'd be the guy. He just stepped forward when the team needed him. "I told them if they need somebody, I'm always here," he said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes for the team to have success."
That mindset has anchored a group that's young everywhere. Three freshmen start on the offensive line, and four are first-time starters. Ashby couldn't be prouder of how they've grown. "It's been tremendous," he said. "Coach (P.J.) Barr came in and did a great job. He's taught them things I've never heard of, and they've picked up what he's put down. They're paving the way."
The same goes for the skill positions. "I can't even say one person," Ashby said when asked who's surprised him. "Caileb Howse went from quarterback to wide receiver and stepped up. Jaden Walters as a freshman, Tommy (Hunsicker) at quarterback — everybody's made improvements. The team as a whole has grown."
Faith, Family, and Perspective
Ashby's growth isn't limited to football. This fall, he made a decision that changed his life: A faithful member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since his first fall on campus, he asked to be baptized. "Titus (Kruah), a wide receiver, invited me to FCA. I went, and I was there every Thursday. We had team fellowship on Tuesdays. It just became something I stuck with.
"I always felt like I wasn't ready," Ashby said. "Then I talked to (Dan Devinney), and he told me it's not about being perfect — it's about taking steps to do the right thing. I started reading the word more, and one day I just felt like I was ready. I prayed about it, called my mom, and said I wanted my family there."
Ashby has faced some tough times, losing people close to him and suffering a devastating ankle injury as a high school senior. "It's played a big role," he said. "Coming out of high school, I tore my ankle first game, first play. I was in a dark place. FCA brought a whole different light into my world."
The injury nearly derailed his career. "It was tough," Ashby said. "I had an offer to Sacred Heart, and I kind of lost sight of that. I was rehabbing every day, trying to come back before the season ended, but then I got an infection and had another surgery. That's when I knew the season was over."
He remembers how lost he felt without football. "Most people don't realize it — it comes as easy as it goes," he said. "It was one of the hardest times because I didn't know what to do. I tried not to be around football because it hurt knowing I couldn't play."
Ashby's journey through injury also inspired his academic path. He's a sports medicine major and wants to become a physical therapist. "Going through my injury and rehab made me want to help other athletes," he said. "I know it's not easy. It's one of the hardest things for an athlete to deal with."
With two games left in the season, Ashby sits among the PSAC's leaders in carries and rushing yards. The 1,000-yard mark is the milestone for all running backs, and that's the goal. "It would mean a lot," he said. "Not just for me, but for Coach (Steven) Graves in his first year, and for the linemen. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am."
For Ashby, the path forward is simple: keep learning and keep running. "We're on a hard incline coming soon," he said.Â
When Mekhi Ashby walked into the locker room Saturday evening, he could feel the weight lift off everyone's shoulders. Millersville football had finally broken through. After weeks of close calls and near-misses, the Marauders secured a long-awaited win — and Ashby was at the heart of it.
"It feels good," Ashby said. "Kind of what I expected. I put a lot of work in the offseason, a lot of team preparation. Our coaches are doing a great job executing what needs to be done, and it was kind of something we expected coming into the game."
His performance was the kind that makes teammates believe and coaches trust. Ashby carried the ball 34 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns, the most carries by a Millersville running back since 2018. He powered through defenders in the closing minutes, running out the clock and sealing the win. The moment was bigger than just a stat line — it was a turning point for a young offense that needed someone to lean on.
A Lion's Mindset
When the game tightened late, everyone in the stadium knew where the ball was going. Ashby embraced it. "It's just a lion mindset," he said. "Just gotta go do what I gotta do. I know the line's gonna do what they have to do. Putting my trust and faith in them, following my path — I knew everything was going to go right."
Those final six minutes showcased the runner he's become. Ashby broke off gains of 14 and 16 yards, lowered his shoulder, and refused to go down on first contact. "I never wanted to be a power back," he admitted with a laugh. "That was just not my style of play, but I kind of just fell into it. I put on good weight, got stronger, and I guess you could say that now."
The transformation is obvious. Since arriving at Millersville, Ashby has added 10 to 15 pounds of muscle, tipping the scale around 210 pounds, sometimes up to 215. "I wanted to have great size but also keep my speed and be able to dominate," he said. That balance — strength to finish runs and burst to hit creases — has turned him into the offense's workhorse.
A New Era and a New Role
The win meant even more because it was head coach Drew Folmar's first at Millersville. Ashby concedes that he and Folmar didn't click immediately when the new staff arrived in the spring, but the junior running back is the first to admit it was a lesson in maturity. "We have a great relationship now," Ashby said. "At first, I just had to grow up a little bit. He kept me on the right path, and I appreciate him for that."
The transition wasn't easy. Millersville's offense has changed each of the past three seasons, and learning another system took time. "It was tough at first," Ashby said. "There was a lot to learn, but with Coach Folmar coming in the spring, giving me pointers, it definitely helped me adapt quicker."
There wasn't a meeting where coaches told Ashby he'd be the guy. He just stepped forward when the team needed him. "I told them if they need somebody, I'm always here," he said. "I'm going to do whatever it takes for the team to have success."
That mindset has anchored a group that's young everywhere. Three freshmen start on the offensive line, and four are first-time starters. Ashby couldn't be prouder of how they've grown. "It's been tremendous," he said. "Coach (P.J.) Barr came in and did a great job. He's taught them things I've never heard of, and they've picked up what he's put down. They're paving the way."
The same goes for the skill positions. "I can't even say one person," Ashby said when asked who's surprised him. "Caileb Howse went from quarterback to wide receiver and stepped up. Jaden Walters as a freshman, Tommy (Hunsicker) at quarterback — everybody's made improvements. The team as a whole has grown."
Faith, Family, and Perspective
Ashby's growth isn't limited to football. This fall, he made a decision that changed his life: A faithful member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since his first fall on campus, he asked to be baptized. "Titus (Kruah), a wide receiver, invited me to FCA. I went, and I was there every Thursday. We had team fellowship on Tuesdays. It just became something I stuck with.
"I always felt like I wasn't ready," Ashby said. "Then I talked to (Dan Devinney), and he told me it's not about being perfect — it's about taking steps to do the right thing. I started reading the word more, and one day I just felt like I was ready. I prayed about it, called my mom, and said I wanted my family there."
Ashby has faced some tough times, losing people close to him and suffering a devastating ankle injury as a high school senior. "It's played a big role," he said. "Coming out of high school, I tore my ankle first game, first play. I was in a dark place. FCA brought a whole different light into my world."
The injury nearly derailed his career. "It was tough," Ashby said. "I had an offer to Sacred Heart, and I kind of lost sight of that. I was rehabbing every day, trying to come back before the season ended, but then I got an infection and had another surgery. That's when I knew the season was over."
He remembers how lost he felt without football. "Most people don't realize it — it comes as easy as it goes," he said. "It was one of the hardest times because I didn't know what to do. I tried not to be around football because it hurt knowing I couldn't play."
Ashby's journey through injury also inspired his academic path. He's a sports medicine major and wants to become a physical therapist. "Going through my injury and rehab made me want to help other athletes," he said. "I know it's not easy. It's one of the hardest things for an athlete to deal with."
With two games left in the season, Ashby sits among the PSAC's leaders in carries and rushing yards. The 1,000-yard mark is the milestone for all running backs, and that's the goal. "It would mean a lot," he said. "Not just for me, but for Coach (Steven) Graves in his first year, and for the linemen. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am."
For Ashby, the path forward is simple: keep learning and keep running. "We're on a hard incline coming soon," he said.Â
Players Mentioned
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