School: Norristown
Football, Basketball, Track
Favorite athlete: Barry Sanders
Favorite team: “I don’t have a favorite team, but I like the West Virginia Mountaineers and Ohio State Buckeyes.”
Favorite memory competing in sports: Playing Chester in the PIAA state championship basketball game at Penn State
Most embarrassing/funniest thing that happened while competing in sports: “In 10th grade, I got smacked playing against Neshaminy.”
Future plans: “Go to college to get an education, then live out my dreams and play in the NFL.”
Words to live by: “Only the strong survive.”
One goal before turning 30: “Travel to a different country.”
One thing people don’t know about me: “I’m a funny guy, and I like to joke around.”
Sheldon Mayer is not exactly an imposing figure on the football field.
Until, that is, he has a football in his hands.
Then the Norristown running back – who is generously listed as 5-8, 185 in the Eagles’ program – is a dangerous weapon. Through six games, Mayer has accumulated 934 yards on 84 carries, which translates into a dazzling 11.12 yards every single time he touches the football. He already has 10 rushing touchdowns.
On defense, Mayer is a standout cornerback.
“He does everything well,” Norristown coach E.J. Smith said. “He’s the kind of athlete that leads in drills. He doesn’t just do it during games. He does it in practice.
“He works out during the offseason, lifting and running. He’s the athlete he is on the football field because of the time he puts in during the offseason keeping himself in shape.”
Mayer has had a love affair with the sport of football since he began playing for the Bridgeport midget program as an eager six-year-old. He once amassed over 1,000 yards in seven games.
“I enjoy everything about it,” he said of football. “The game is just fun.
“You can go out there and smack guys around and get smacked around, and you can’t get in trouble for it. That might be the best thing about it.”
Basketball entered the scene when Mayer was seven, and he excelled at that as well. Last winter, he was the starting point guard for an Eagles’ squad that made a magical run to the state title game against Chester.
“That was the best experience ever,” said Mayer, who also started as a freshman. “It will probably be the best experience in my high school career.
“For that to happen – it made me think about football because I love football even more. It made me want to do it for football too. After losing to Chester, I couldn’t think of nothing but football after that.”
Mayer gave glimpses of his unlimited potential as a second string player last year.
“I came into the game to get a quick burst, get the momentum going,” he said. “I played my role, but it’s a lot more fun this year being the key guy on the team.”
Mayer’s success on an Eagles’ squad that owns a share of the American Conference’s top spot has not surprised his coach.
“He works hard at everything he does,” Smith said. “Last year, we used him quite a bit in the slot position, and he’s one of our better D-backs. He plays corner for us and does a good job.”
Mayer invests considerable time in both of his sports. In the summer, it’s football and basketball.
“Once August 1 comes, it’s strictly football,” he said. “After that, it’s strictly basketball.
“After basketball, I hit the weights to bulk up and run track for conditioning.”
An athlete who is blessed with speed, Mayer competes in the 100, 200 and 400, and he is a member of the 4x100 relay.
When game day rolls around, Mayer is always ready.
“I prepare myself for the game, so when game time comes, I know what to expect,” he said. “I work hard at practice, and it pays off in games.
“I just come out and play my game how I can play, and hopefully, we’ll come up big as a team.”
Despite Mayer’s accomplishments, his coach believes the best is yet to come.
“We still have a lot to see in him,” Smith said. “He hasn’t reached his potential at all.”
Mayer and his teammates have their sights set on a playoff berth, and it’s no secret that the diminutive running back will be asked to lead them.
“He leads by example,” Smith said. “He’s not a very vocal kit, but when he does talk, a lot of people listen.
“He accepts his role as a junior, but his teammates know he’s in it to win it. He’s definitely in it to win it.”
