The game of 8-man football is not the prescribed path to a Division I college, but
Nate Meier proved it can be done by earning a scholarship to the University of Iowa.
He also had offers from Northern Iowa and South Dakota.
Photo courtesy of Mark Jewell Photography
Nate Meier will be moving from 8-man
football to the Big Ten, as he is
committed to the University of Iowa.
The powerful 6-foot-2, 235-pound running back/defensive end was named Iowa's 8-man Player of the Year leading
Fremont-Mills (Tabor, Iowa) to a 13-0 record and its first state championship in any sport. He rushed 176 times for 2,494 yards (14.2 average) and scored 57 touchdowns. He was just as dominating on defense, making 112 tackles, including 45 for losses.
During an 80-48 victory over East Mills (Malvern, Iowa), Meier ran for a state-record 500 yards and tied the listed national record with 10 touchdowns. Meier also scored five touchdowns to help his team break or tie 12 records when it demolished Murray (Iowa) 81-0 in the state-title game.
His most amazing statistic probably was that he averaged only about 26 minutes per 48-minute game.
"It feels great," Meier told MaxPreps. "It's actually more like a relief that I found a place. Ever since I was a freshman, I wanted to play Division I. I always thought that could happen. I just kept working hard and hard work paid off."
Despite playing for a small school (146 students in grades 9-12), Meier would have been a standout anywhere, because he is very athletic. He can reportedly run 40 yards in 4.55 seconds, bench press 405 pounds and has a vertical jump of 35 inches. He comes from an athletic family and has a 6-11 uncle.
Coach Jeremy Christiansen watched Meier grow up and knew he had something special four years ago when he reached the varsity.
He calls his star "very athletic, a hard-nosed player and very dedicated to our football program. When he runs the ball, he's not going to shy from contact. He's very aggressive and physical in nature."
Christiansen said five of his eight seniors will play college football at some level and he has several underclassmen who are good prospects.
Running back is Meier's favorite position, but Iowa coaches have told him he also could be used at fullback, linebacker or rush end due to his size and speed.
MaxPreps 2012 National Signing Day coverageBecause he proved 8-man football players can earn Division I scholarships, Meier believes he is leaving a legacy that hard work can pay off.
"Now they're saying that anything is possible," he said of 2012 returnees. "Now they're working twice as hard."