SPORTS
A Passion for
Football
D
Cedar Grove sports star David Njoku makes it to the NFL
avid Njoku’s NFL dream was born in the living room
of his childhood home in Cedar Grove. The journey
itself, which became a reality in July, began
with a rubber football and the family’s
couch serving as the goal line at an
imaginary end zone.
“It’d be David, me and our younger
brother Charles, and we’d take turns, one
of us with the ball and the other two trying
to stop him from getting to the couch,”
Evidence Njoku, the older of David’s two
younger brothers, recalls. “That’s where all
three of us developed our passion for football,
and we battled. We were competitive. When
you love something, you want to take it as far
as you can go. He’s never been satisfied.
He’s set the bar.”
At 21 years old, 6-foot-4 and
247 pounds, David Njoku is ready
to take his game to new heights.
He was drafted in the first
round by the Cleveland Browns
with the 29th overall pick, one
of three first-rounders for the
team – four picks after fellow
New Jersey native Jabrill Peppers
and the No. 1 overall selection,
Myles Garrett.
“Oh my gosh,” Njoku says.
“I cannot explain how crazy it
is. I still cannot believe it. I am
so blessed to be here, honestly.”
>
ON THE MOVE David Njoku runs with
the ball during practice at the Cleveland
Browns training facility in Ohio.
(Opposite page) Njoku catches a
touchdown for University of Miami.
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BACK TO SCHOOL 2017
SPORTS; MIAMI:
WRITTEN BY ART STAPLETON