On Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011, Upper Merion senior Naim Cheeseboro announced his decision to accept a football scholarship to Stony Brook University in Long Island, N.Y. A three-year varsity starter, Cheeseboro received first team all-SOL American Conference honors at both running back and safety last fall.
Naim Cheeseboro – Stony Brook University (Football)
Major: Sports Management
Final list of colleges: Stony Brook, Maine, Akron
Reasons for choosing Stony Brook: “Not being far from home wasn’t a factor. It was more my playing time and if I liked the campus, how would I fit in. When I went on my visit, it was a great vibe. Friday night when I got there until Sunday morning when I left – it was great. I loved everything I saw.
“They are looking for me to come in as a freshman and have a big impact. My chances right now look pretty good. They’re graduating a safety, so maybe my freshman and sophomore year I could get some time.”
What was the progression that led to receiving a football scholarship? “My sophomore year I started getting my first letters. I’m thinking, ‘Now I’ve got to stay focused and really keep a good head on my shoulders.’ My junior year I had a good season, but I was worried at one point because I didn’t get offers at the end of the season, and I had a great season. My senior year I stuck it out, and I had a few offers.
“I had a group of people that helped me out along the way, and it went good. There were a few bumps in the road but nothing major.”
Upper Merion had a tough season this year. How did you stay focused? “Going into the year, I knew we were going to be young. We graduated 16 seniors the year before, so I knew it was going to be tough. I came in knowing it was going to be a tough year. I worked with the kids. We worked hard, but we just came up short. We didn’t come up with the wins, but we all had fun with our season this year.”
How does it feel to have reached your goal of playing collegiate football? “It feels good. It didn’t hit me yet, but I know it’s a good feeling, and I know the school I picked was a good pick.”
Coach Joe Powel says: “What stands out about Naim is his work ethic and his desire. He truly wants to take it to the next level, and he loves the game. He loves to play football. He enjoys it. When he goes out there, he tries hard to do that every single time. He has been a blessing for me.
“He started for me for three years, and he’s gotten better each year. He has matured and become quite a leader for us. This year we were not a good football team, and I think he understood that coming into the season, but he didn’t back down. He played the game hard, and he tried to help us teach the younger kids. He has been everything to us the past three years, and I think this year we have really been blessed by having him on the football team.
“He loves to hit, he loves the physical part of the game, and that really stands out in the safety position. He’s either going to separate you from the football or try to make a statement early so that you don’t come across the middle. He’s a good open field tackler. Just his physicality and his athletic ability going for the football are two things that stand out. That’s why Stony Brook took him, and I think he’s going to be very successful on that side of the football.”
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