Nick’s US touchdown

By Marc McGowan
BERWICK Miners star Nick Vlad admits he is trying to keep his feet on the ground despite earning a college scholarship to play gridiron in the United States.
The 17-year-old Noble Park resident only started playing the sport last year, but his natural athleticism made him an instant hit.
Vlad is also a rowing and Australian Rules football scholarship-holder at Keysborough’s Haileybury College.
The Year-12 student earned state selection in gridiron last year before representing his country in a Junior World Cup qualifier against New Zealand in January.
But it’s the scholarship to Boise State University in Idaho that has the super-talented teenager buzzing.
Vlad was among 900 hopefuls at the six-day camp at the Division One school and managed to standout with his speed and catching skills as a wide receiver.
He was not the only international participant, with athletes from the Netherlands and England also keen to impress.
Vlad will find out when he arrives in January whether he will be a wide receiver or defensive end, but will definitely have punting duties.
The Boise State Broncos compete in the Western Athletic Conference and went undefeated as recently as the 2006 season.
“Ninety-nine per cent of (the kids who tried out) had played since the age of six and had all been doing weights and everything,” Vlad said.
“I was curious to see what level they were up to. This is only my second year and the coaches know that.
“They said that I have all the natural things and they can work with me for the whole of next year and I can become a really good player.”
Vlad will be a ‘redshirt’ freshman next year.
This means he is unable to play in games and will instead spend the year training and learning more about the sport.
Athletes only have four years of playing eligibility in college and he will start his term in 2011.
The scholarship is subject to him achieving a certain score in a general knowledge test in September.
Vlad will also have to maintain a certain standard in his classes to keep his scholarship – something he believes is ‘a good thing’.
“It makes athletes not just focus on sport, but focus on school as well, so that will be good,” he said.
“If you can’t do school, you can’t play.
“If you don’t have a future in sport after that you’re still left with a diploma or something from school.”
Vlad is still weighing up his study options, but looks likely to undertake a management course during his five-year stay.
His focus before then is completing his VCE, building up in the gym and sharpening his punting skills.
And Vlad’s not allowing himself to dream about a National Football League career – at this stage anyway.
“I’ll just try to keep my feet on the floor and focus on this and see how I go,” he said.