Class 2012: Natu Myers, DT, Glebe Gryphons (Video)

Today, CFC features class 2012 star defensive tackle from the Glebe Gryphons, Natu Myers. Natu began his football career with the Gryphons in 2008.


Natu Myers

Positions:
Defensive Tackle, Defensive End

Height/Weight:
6’4, 260 lbs

Teams:
Glebe Gryphons (high school)
Cumberland Panthers (varsity)
Ottawa Sooners (CJFL)
Canterbury Mustangs (peewee/bantam)
Team Ontario East

Commitment:
None

Consideration:
Open

Class:
2012

In his freshman year of high school, Natu began playing football because he was enticed by what the sport had to offer on the field.

“I was initially drawn to football in grade 9 because it was the first time that I was a part of a team sport,” explains the star defensive tackle. “I enjoyed the comradery of the sport and the rich emotional atmosphere while in the thick of a game.”

In 2009, the Gryphons standout played with the Canterbury Mustangs in the Ottawa South’s National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) League. Steadily showing growth and development as a player, Natu was awarded team most improved player honours.

The next season (2010), the defensive tackle was invited to play with the Ottawa Sooners in the highly competitive Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). He was part of a Sooners team that were the regional finalists.

“I played football at the age of 15 to 16 with people aged up to 21,” adds Natu. “I gained a lot of football experience and learned the fundamentals of football.”

Most recently, the graduating star played for the Cumberland Panthers in the Ontario Varsity Football League. Also, he helped some of the grade nine players with football skills while completing his last playing season with the Gryphons.

However, Natu’s most rewarding experience came in July 2011 as a member of Team Ontario East at the Football Canada Cup in Lethbridge, Alberta.

“I was exposed to a very high level of play and coaching,” says the standout that was named defensive MVP of the game versus Team Manitoba at the tourney. “The dynamism surrounding the training, coaching and team play helped me have a new respect for football.”

Even though Natu may have only started playing football in grade 9, he has flourished into the player he is today due to the coaches he’s had over the years.

“All the coaches who have helped me develop my football skills, my athleticism and have encouraged me to go to the next level as a player have been highly influential to my growth as a football player,” says Natu who can run 40 yards in 4.9 seconds. “Without them, I wouldn’t have developed to this level.”

As for the biggest influence on his life, it is his mother who has sacrificed a lot and encouraged Natu in achieving his football goals.

“She supported my passion for football and has driven for hours to watch my games,” comments the Gryphons standout. “She sacrificed money and time to help me access coaching and training opportunities that have helped me improve my level of play.”

Natu has played sports other than football. He was a member of the Glebe Gryphons junior rugby (2008-2009) and the Gryphons basketball (2009-2010) teams.

Not only has he achieved success on the field, but in the classroom as well. For the last two years, the graduating player has been on the high school honour roll. Additionally, he is a leader off the field by participating in an international program called Link Crew via his high school.

“Its purpose is to integrate grade 9s into their school by establishing must-have life skills in the school culture through planed, school-wide events,”explains Natu of the program. “The Link Crew program is composed of students who are selected through popular demand, invitation and interviews.”

After graduating this year from high school, the Gryphons standout is interested in continuing future studies in kinesiology, human kinetics, or biomechanics.

Overall, the football experience has reaffirmed things he has learned from his Christian faith. He sees many similarities between his faith and the game he loves to play.

“On every football team, there is an assortment of athletes: you have a diversity of backgrounds, heights, weights, physiques, running abilities and strength and it is this variation in attributes, but common purpose, among the athletes that will often lead a football team to success,” says Natu. “This is much like how different people in our world are given different gifts and abilities.”

“If all individuals were to focus on developing their God given gift and maximizing the potential inherent in those gifts to a common purpose, the sum of these focused efforts would equate into a more efficient and high performing world.”




Video of Natu’s Football Highlights:

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