Lakeland High School quarterback Miles Goodman struggled at times during his senior season, during which the Cavs went 3-8, but his high school career now has a key silver lining — it opened the door to college football.

In front of a group of his friends at his house on June 13, Goodman signed to play for Fairmont State University.

“It means a lot because of the trials and tribulations that I went through with the season that we had,” he said, noting he did not think he was going to get colleges to look at him. “When I actually got one, it was a blessing.”

His signing came later on in the year because “I was still waiting for an offer and looking around,” he said.

Fairmont had already been on his radar for academic reasons.

“But then I sent my highlight tape and all my information to the running back coach, and he really liked me,” Goodman said.

That coach showed the tape to the Fighting Falcons’ head coach, who also liked what he saw.

The process, which started in April, resulted in a partial athletic scholarship for Goodman.

Bryan Potts, who was the Lakeland head coach during Goodman’s junior and senior seasons, said, “Miles is definitely an athlete who can play at the next level.”

“It’s a great opportunity for him,” said new Lakeland coach Kevin Knight, who worked with Goodman as the running backs coach. “I’m very proud of him.”

The football opportunity is what gave Fairmont the edge, but he had also looked at Chowan University, Virginia State University and Virginia Union University for their academic offerings.

Goodman plans to major in architecture and civil engineering.

On the gridiron, he will be moving to a new position.

“They plan to use me as a slot receiver,” he said.

On what convinced Fairmont coaches he would do well in the slot, Goodman said, “I think it was my field vision, my speed and my quickness and my athletic ability all together.”

His high school coaches saw the logic in the move.

“He was an athlete at quarterback, so I could see the reason they want to move him to slot receiver,” Knight said.

Potts said while Goodman was not asked the catch the ball the last two seasons, he should be capable in that area, complementing his other strengths.

“Great footwork and his ability to run well, it should carry over well as a slot receiver,” he said.

When Goodman first played organized football at the age of 4 with the Suffolk Titans, he was a running back. He was trying to continue in that position in high school but got limited playing time and eventually volunteered to play quarterback when he saw the need there.

“I just prefer to be on the offensive side of the ball,” he said.

As he takes his game to the next level, Goodman noted his mother, Samantha Goodman, helped make it possible.

“She really pushed me all these years to get where I’m at now,” he said.