Nick Golden to play football at North Central College
By FRED KRONER
Nick Golden realized it was best to make an informed decision rather than a quick decision when it came to his collegiate future.
He took visits – starting as a junior and continuing as a senior – to universities of different sizes in different areas (five different states), which offered different opportunities to Mahomet-Seymour’s standout football linebacker.
Golden looked closely at Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Eastern Illinois University, Butler, Indiana State, McKendree, Wisconsin-Whitewater and North Central College.
“I wanted to make sure I chose a program where I was a priority recruit,” Golden said.
After helping the Bulldogs to a cumulative 22-2 record in his final two high school seasons, Golden settled on a college which also specializes in success. He committed to North Central College, in Naperville, which has a record of 42-2 the last three years, to go with three consecutive Division III national championship game appearances.
“I am used to winning and want to be part of their winning program,” Golden said. “North Central has an incredible culture.”
The Cardinals were 15-0 last fall, winning their second national title in four years (but in three football seasons as 2020 was canceled by COVID-19). Last year’s defensive-minded North Central team yielded just seven touchdowns in 10 regular-season games.
As M-S football head coach Jon Adkins saw it, Golden didn’t have any bad options.
“I knew he couldn’t go wrong with his decision and choosing a two-time national champion is sure to be a great one,” Adkins said. “Absolutely loved watching Nick play football and am incredibly proud of him for his work ethic and leadership.”
Golden’s introduction to tackle football occurred as a fifth-grader after his family moved from Wisconsin to Mahomet.
Now a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, Golden wasn’t always a linebacker.
“I was playing offensive and defensive line for the first couple of years,” he said. “As I got older, I started to develop more athleticism, so I moved to receiver and linebacker.”
The summer before his sophomore season at M-S, he was working with the first unit at both the offensive and defensive positions. Soon, he and the Bulldog staff had decisions to make.
“After Covid hit and the fall season was canceled, Coach Adkins adopted a platooning strategy, meaning players specialize on one side of the ball,” Golden said. “For me, the defensive side was always my favorite, so I elected to specialize in playing linebacker, which probably ended up being the best thing for me.”
Golden earned Apollo All-Conference accolades all three years he was on varsity. As a junior and as a senior, he helped the Bulldogs to berths in the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Golden had his best game as a senior – 11 solo tackles – in the quarterfinals and one of his best games as a junior – 10 total tackles – in the quarterfinals.
As he reflects on his progress on the gridiron, Golden credits a mindset that enables him to emphasize doing things the right way instead of cutting corners.
“The key to my development was learning to make the correct play rather than the flashy play on every down,” he said. “You can afford to take risks and make flashy plays against bad competition.
“But when games get close and the competition gets better, you get exposed if you don’t do your job correctly. Coach Adkins, Coach (Henry) Turek and Coach (John) Lewis were instrumental in helping me make sure that I became as technically sound as I could be as a football player.
“All pushed me to be the best player I could be during practice.”
Golden said his time with the Bulldogs provided bittersweet moments.
“I am disappointed how my football career ended at Mahomet,” he said. “Being upset again in the quarterfinal round was crushing.”
Those two quarterfinal-round losses –the only two he was a part of in his final two seasons – were offset by the numerous highlights.
“I have had so many good moments in my high school career that I would absolutely say I had a better four years than I ever could have hoped for,” Golden said. “Some favorite moments were the four home playoff games we were able to host the past two years.
“The atmosphere and stakes of the games made for the best football games I have ever played. I will also miss running out of the tunnel with my teammates, and underneath the lights before the game. Most of all, I’ll miss hanging out with all my buddies during practices and dinners.”
The memories made, he said, will last forever.
“I feel very fortunate and blessed to be a part of Mahomet-Seymour Football for the past four years,” Golden said. “I love being part of what we have built here and I know the great culture that Coach Adkins has created will continue.
“Incredibly thankful for my teammates and coaches.”
Another highlight for Golden was intercepting two passes, each of which he returned for touchdowns. His junior-year return covered 82 yards. That play is just one of the memories that Adkins will retain.
“Going to miss Nick for sure, but he has left his mark on Bulldog football,” Adkins said. “All the records he broke and the interception returned for a touchdown do not compare to the flapping of the wings at practice with the crow noise that Nick would do during a tough day of practice to lighten the mood.”
Though his desire to play beyond high school can be traced back to his freshman year, football wasn’t always his priority sport.
“It was always my dream to play sports in college,” Golden said. “There was a point where I wasn’t sure if I favored football or basketball more.
“Once I got into high school, it was clear my main focus was on football.”
He also ran track throughout his athletic career as well as playing basketball and hockey.
Football was most appealing to Golden.
“At the core of it, I love the game of football and I’m thrilled I get to continue playing, and I think I’ve found the perfect fit for me,” Golden said.
“My appeal to football is the physical nature of the game and the toughness required to succeed at it. Speed, physicality, and relentlessness as a defender have been my strengths, which allow me to get to the quarterback or ball carrier quickly.”
Golden is pleased to have his recruitment in the rear view mirror.
“Selecting a four-year school was a difficult decision to make,’ he said. “However, North Central academically and athletically offered a variety of things that I wanted.”
Golden’s initial contact with the Naperville college came last summer. Conversations increased more once his senior season in football ended.
“They extended an offer when I visited in January,” Golden said. “My visit with the staff and on campus was amazing and it felt like an ideal fit. The recruiting process was stressful for me.
“I had a lot of coaches talking to me and it was hard to gauge certain schools’ actual interest in me.”
Golden, who has not selected a major, would like to contribute quickly once he reaches the collegiate level.
“I’m hoping that I can come in and have an immediate impact once I arrive on campus,” he said. “The North Central staff liked my size and versatility, so I trust that they will find the correct role for me.
“The college game is bigger, stronger and faster. I am working hard in the weight room to prepare myself for these challenges. Trying to add weight and increase speed are my goals. It feels good that I’ll be going to a program where I’ll have to prove myself again to try and help North Central win another national championship.”
The distance from Mahomet to Golden’s college home in Naperville is approximately 120 miles. He is comfortable with that distance.
“The transition of moving away will definitely be a challenge at first but it won’t be hard considering home isn’t too far away,” Golden said. “Having family and friends already up in that area will make things easier as well.
“Being a few hours away allows my family to come to my games and will allow me to come back to Mahomet to see family and friends.”
By FRED KRONER
Nick Golden realized it was best to make an informed decision rather than a quick decision when it came to his collegiate future.
He took visits – starting as a junior and continuing as a senior – to universities of different sizes in different areas (five different states), which offered different opportunities to Mahomet-Seymour’s standout football linebacker.
Golden looked closely at Nebraska, Illinois, Kansas, Eastern Illinois University, Butler, Indiana State, McKendree, Wisconsin-Whitewater and North Central College.
“I wanted to make sure I chose a program where I was a priority recruit,” Golden said.
After helping the Bulldogs to a cumulative 22-2 record in his final two high school seasons, Golden settled on a college which also specializes in success. He committed to North Central College, in Naperville, which has a record of 42-2 the last three years, to go with three consecutive Division III national championship game appearances.
“I am used to winning and want to be part of their winning program,” Golden said. “North Central has an incredible culture.”
The Cardinals were 15-0 last fall, winning their second national title in four years (but in three football seasons as 2020 was canceled by COVID-19). Last year’s defensive-minded North Central team yielded just seven touchdowns in 10 regular-season games.
As M-S football head coach Jon Adkins saw it, Golden didn’t have any bad options.
“I knew he couldn’t go wrong with his decision and choosing a two-time national champion is sure to be a great one,” Adkins said. “Absolutely loved watching Nick play football and am incredibly proud of him for his work ethic and leadership.”
Golden’s introduction to tackle football occurred as a fifth-grader after his family moved from Wisconsin to Mahomet.
Now a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder, Golden wasn’t always a linebacker.
“I was playing offensive and defensive line for the first couple of years,” he said. “As I got older, I started to develop more athleticism, so I moved to receiver and linebacker.”
The summer before his sophomore season at M-S, he was working with the first unit at both the offensive and defensive positions. Soon, he and the Bulldog staff had decisions to make.
“After Covid hit and the fall season was canceled, Coach Adkins adopted a platooning strategy, meaning players specialize on one side of the ball,” Golden said. “For me, the defensive side was always my favorite, so I elected to specialize in playing linebacker, which probably ended up being the best thing for me.”
Golden earned Apollo All-Conference accolades all three years he was on varsity. As a junior and as a senior, he helped the Bulldogs to berths in the Class 5A state quarterfinals. Golden had his best game as a senior – 11 solo tackles – in the quarterfinals and one of his best games as a junior – 10 total tackles – in the quarterfinals.
As he reflects on his progress on the gridiron, Golden credits a mindset that enables him to emphasize doing things the right way instead of cutting corners.
“The key to my development was learning to make the correct play rather than the flashy play on every down,” he said. “You can afford to take risks and make flashy plays against bad competition.
“But when games get close and the competition gets better, you get exposed if you don’t do your job correctly. Coach Adkins, Coach (Henry) Turek and Coach (John) Lewis were instrumental in helping me make sure that I became as technically sound as I could be as a football player.
“All pushed me to be the best player I could be during practice.”
Golden said his time with the Bulldogs provided bittersweet moments.
“I am disappointed how my football career ended at Mahomet,” he said. “Being upset again in the quarterfinal round was crushing.”
Those two quarterfinal-round losses –the only two he was a part of in his final two seasons – were offset by the numerous highlights.
“I have had so many good moments in my high school career that I would absolutely say I had a better four years than I ever could have hoped for,” Golden said. “Some favorite moments were the four home playoff games we were able to host the past two years.
“The atmosphere and stakes of the games made for the best football games I have ever played. I will also miss running out of the tunnel with my teammates, and underneath the lights before the game. Most of all, I’ll miss hanging out with all my buddies during practices and dinners.”
The memories made, he said, will last forever.
“I feel very fortunate and blessed to be a part of Mahomet-Seymour Football for the past four years,” Golden said. “I love being part of what we have built here and I know the great culture that Coach Adkins has created will continue.
“Incredibly thankful for my teammates and coaches.”
Another highlight for Golden was intercepting two passes, each of which he returned for touchdowns. His junior-year return covered 82 yards. That play is just one of the memories that Adkins will retain.
“Going to miss Nick for sure, but he has left his mark on Bulldog football,” Adkins said. “All the records he broke and the interception returned for a touchdown do not compare to the flapping of the wings at practice with the crow noise that Nick would do during a tough day of practice to lighten the mood.”
Though his desire to play beyond high school can be traced back to his freshman year, football wasn’t always his priority sport.
“It was always my dream to play sports in college,” Golden said. “There was a point where I wasn’t sure if I favored football or basketball more.
“Once I got into high school, it was clear my main focus was on football.”
He also ran track throughout his athletic career as well as playing basketball and hockey.
Football was most appealing to Golden.
“At the core of it, I love the game of football and I’m thrilled I get to continue playing, and I think I’ve found the perfect fit for me,” Golden said.
“My appeal to football is the physical nature of the game and the toughness required to succeed at it. Speed, physicality, and relentlessness as a defender have been my strengths, which allow me to get to the quarterback or ball carrier quickly.”
Golden is pleased to have his recruitment in the rear view mirror.
“Selecting a four-year school was a difficult decision to make,’ he said. “However, North Central academically and athletically offered a variety of things that I wanted.”
Golden’s initial contact with the Naperville college came last summer. Conversations increased more once his senior season in football ended.
“They extended an offer when I visited in January,” Golden said. “My visit with the staff and on campus was amazing and it felt like an ideal fit. The recruiting process was stressful for me.
“I had a lot of coaches talking to me and it was hard to gauge certain schools’ actual interest in me.”
Golden, who has not selected a major, would like to contribute quickly once he reaches the collegiate level.
“I’m hoping that I can come in and have an immediate impact once I arrive on campus,” he said. “The North Central staff liked my size and versatility, so I trust that they will find the correct role for me.
“The college game is bigger, stronger and faster. I am working hard in the weight room to prepare myself for these challenges. Trying to add weight and increase speed are my goals. It feels good that I’ll be going to a program where I’ll have to prove myself again to try and help North Central win another national championship.”
The distance from Mahomet to Golden’s college home in Naperville is approximately 120 miles. He is comfortable with that distance.
“The transition of moving away will definitely be a challenge at first but it won’t be hard considering home isn’t too far away,” Golden said. “Having family and friends already up in that area will make things easier as well.
“Being a few hours away allows my family to come to my games and will allow me to come back to Mahomet to see family and friends.”
