Nathan Roy ready to bring 鈥榠ntensity and passion鈥� to Minnesota
MUKWONAGO, Wis. (BVM) 鈥� The has been able to sign at least one of the state鈥檚 top four players since 2000, but that won鈥檛 be the case in 2024. The state鈥檚 top four players will be heading to Big Ten rivals, including Nathan Roy, who鈥檚 ranked as the nation鈥檚 No. 8 interior offensive .
Roy鈥檚 football journey began out west, and by the time he was set to begin his high school career, his family had moved to Nevada. He was gearing up to play alongside his older brother at, but the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season, and it took a toll on Nathan.聽
鈥淚 look forward to football every day,鈥� Nathan said. 鈥淲hen it was taken away from me my freshman year, I kind of went into a little mental health abyss. I wasn’t myself.鈥�
With help from his family and self-determination, Nathan found his way out of the 鈥渕ental health abyss,鈥� and before the beginning of his sophomore season (2021-22), his family moved to Wisconsin, where his mom is originally from.聽
鈥沦丑别 was born and raised here,鈥� Nathan said. 鈥淗er family鈥檚 here, and she graduated from UW, and this is where she wanted to raise my baby sister.鈥�
In Wisconsin, Nathan decided to play for a distinguished prep football team in the Mukwonago Indians, and with them, he was able to block for 2022-23 Gatorade Wisconsin Football Player of the Year Wynn Stang and help Mukwonago to an 11-2 record. With a successful season, Nathan鈥檚 only offer came from Central Michigan, but following a playoff matchup against Sun Prairie East, where the Indians racked up 530 yards of offense on the ground, the offers began to pour in.
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— Nathan Roy (@thenathanroy)
Programs that sent him scholarship offers included Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, UCLA and USC. Those schools followed Minnesota, who had offered Nathan a scholarship on Sept. 1, thanks to offensive line coach Brian Callahan. With 19 total offers, , Nathan鈥檚 decision came down to Minnesota, Michigan State and UCLA, but he chose to commit to Minnesota in June.
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鈥�Relationships and culture were the key factors for me,鈥� Nathan said. 鈥泪鈥�ve known coach Callahan for a bit, and I have a great relationship with coach [P.J.] Fleck. Those were guys that I could see myself playing for and giving everything for.鈥�
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With Nathan鈥檚 collegiate path now set, he can鈥檛 help but look back and think about the impact his family had and will continue to make in his life.聽
鈥淥bviously, they鈥檙e going to play an extremely important role,鈥� Nathan said. 鈥淭hey know how I feel. They know what I value. They鈥檙e really intelligent people, and they鈥檙e not going to put me in a bad situation 鈥� My family plays a really important role in my life and football career.鈥�
Nathan is set on being successful on the gridiron no matter the level, but now the Classic Eight鈥檚 top offensive lineman will look to help Mukwonago capture its first state title since 2004. He鈥檒l also continue to find ways to better himself and bring a special level of intensity to the football field.聽
鈥淚 can give everything I have, and if you bring that intensity, guys are going to start following you and bring the same intensity and passion,鈥� Nathan said.聽
With a potential starting spot waiting for him in Minneapolis, Nathan will do his best to leave a lasting legacy at Mukwonago, but he will also be forever grateful that he found a sport that helped him grow as a person and that will continue to be a centerpiece in his life.
鈥�I don’t take it for granted anymore,鈥� Nathan said. 鈥淚 enjoy coming to practice, working out, watching film, watching college ball and watching NFL ball. Everything in my life has revolved around football. Whether that’s playing Pop Warner or high school football, it means everything to me.鈥�
