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Every year, thousands of people from all around the world come to America in hopes of a better life or just the opportunity to fulfill a dream. Like so many others, 17 year-old Nicholas Djurdevic decided one spring day to make the journey to the United States, but his journey would be a bit different. For Nick, coming to America was about having an opportunity to showcase his talents to create a door of opportunity to do what he loves most: play football.
Djurdevic, a high school junior at the time from Humberside Colligate High School in Toronto, Canada, has always love playing football. During his freshmen year, a friend encouraged him to join the football team. The first time he played, he knew this was something special. The 6'3 225 lbs linebacker quickly became infatuated with the game and was named team captain his freshmen year. He quickly became an outstanding player and Humberside Colligate named him team MVP during his first three seasons.
Djurdevic also starred in an under-18 summer football league as a freshman before moving up to a U-20 league the very next year. His success was far beyond expectations. Unfortunately, Canadian football players rarely receive adequate recruiting exposure. "I knew I needed to take my game to the next level. So I went online and search for combines and found the National Underclassmen Combine," says Djurdevic. So the determined Djurdevic decided to take his game south of his nation's border to compete in the NUC's Detroit area event. Djurdevic's adventure to Detroit became a journey he'll never forget.
He had a valid passport in hand and was ready to fly to Detroit to showcase his talents among some of Michigan's best at East China Stadium until his parents shattered his dreams with a simple "no". Djdurveic's divorced parents, unfamiliar with football recruiting and didn't see the event as significant, were strongly against the idea of their son traveling alone to a foreign country. "I got my passport for a school trip. I thought my parents would let me go to the combine. I almost didn't go, but decided the morning of the combine to go," admits the tenacious linebacker. While his parents flat out said he couldn't attend the combine, Nick's desire to play college football ultimately overruled their decision.
| The Road Ahead |
Djurdevic decided to hitchhike from his storefront apartment in Toronto to the combine in Detroit. His determination could not be stopped. "My friends all think I am a little bit crazy," says Djurdevic. "So when I told them I wanted to go, they acted as if it wasn't anything special." Djurdevic's journey would be more than special. On Sunday, May 9, 2010, at 5am while most of North America were fast asleep, Djurdevic was up preparing to embark on an unpredictable journey. Coming along with him was a hiking style backpack, a football helmet, knee brace, and two days worth of clothes, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste and $210. The young Canadian traveler was on his way to chase his American dream. Djurdevic got on a train from Toronto to Windsor, Ontario, which dropped him off just short of the US border. From there, the remainder of his trip was trickier than a Rubik's cube. With nothing in the surrounding area except for fast zooming cars, Djurdevic trekked through the side of an underground tunnel until reaching the US-Canadian border, which he crossed without an issue. Nick then crossed into the United States, and quickly felt out of place. Djurdevic found himself in Detroit's rough projects. "I asked a man on the street how to get further downtown," says the determined traveler. He was directed to a bus stop. After getting off the bus, a man in a black town car offered him a ride. "I thought he was a taxi driver; so I tried to negotiate a rate, and I pulled out my wallet." This turned out to be a near costly mistake. "The driver tried to snatch the wallet out of my hand, but I pushed him away and ran." Djurdevic's American adventure started to look more like a nightmare. He walked about 20 minutes with his hulking backpack strapped to his shoulders and stopped at a roadside store to ask how far he was from New China, the location of the combine. A store clerk informed him that he had quite a way to go. Luckily a contractor working outside of the store overheard his story and offered Djurdevic a ride to a bus stop closer to his point of destination. Djurdevic hopped on the next bus and struck up a conversation with a few football fans, who noticed a helmet sticking out of his bag. The fans picked up on his accent and told him, "Canada is no good at football." But Djurdevic had come too far to entertain any doubts in his skills. Undeterred, Djurdevic went into a state of panic when he got off the bus; it was 12 noon, one hour before the combine was set to start. Hungry from the long journey, Djurdevic stopped at a nearby diner, dropped his heavy bag on a table and went to use the restroom. Upon returning, he found his bag was gone. Before he could think about the whereabouts of his bag, an off-duty police officer tapped him on the shoulder. The officer warned Djurdevic about the dangers of leaving items unattended. The officer then proceeded to chat with him. Djurdevic told him about his journey and how he needed to get to the combine within the hour. Feeling sorry for the young traveler, the officer gave Djurdevic a ride ten miles down the road to East China Stadium, where he arrived at 1:20 PM.  |
| Arrived and Ready |
| Even after traveling hundreds of miles by foot, bus and automobile, Djurdevic's tank was far from empty. From the minute he entered the playing field, his energy, work ethic and hunger made him a standout among a talented group of athletes. Dubbed by fellow athletes as "Air Canada," Djurdevic went on to win the coveted Leadership Award and earned an invite to the National Underclassmen's coveted Ultimate 100 Camp. "I have never seen anything like this before," says National Underclassmen's Event Director, Vinnie Pacelli. "I've worked with all kinds of athletes during the last six years and this is by far the most interesting athlete I have come across." As the athletes were getting ready to leave, Bob Chmiel of the National Collegiate Scouting Association stopped to speak with Djurdevic. Upon hearing the story of Djurdevic's amazing journey, Chmiel, a veteran recruiting coordinator, offered him NCSA's recruiting services for free. "I was completely taken back. It was an unbelievable story and a lot of kids don't even want to show up if they aren't dropped off at the front door. What Nick did shows how important football is to him," says Chmiel.  |
| Going Home |
Djurdevic's route home wasn't perfectly scripted, but it didn't take the same twists and turns as his trip to America. He received a ride back to a Best Western Hotel, where he called his parents to notify them of his international journey. "I was upset when I found out. I was happy he was ok," says Djurdevic's mother, Bilana Djurdevic, a cook and jeweler who supports Nick and his sister Nikolina. "Sometimes he doesn't want to tell me everything. He does so I don't have to worry. Deep down inside I am not sure that I was fine with him going, but I couldn't punish him for it." The next morning, he found a local bus to take him back to the border. Then Djurdevic crossed back into Canada and once again walked on the side of the underground tunnel to the train then home. Nick arrived home at 1:30 pm. Minutes later, he headed to school, a bit late. "The whole experience was pretty fun," recalls Djurdevic when reminiscing about his unforgettable trip. "I thought of going to the combine as a vacation because I hadn't had one in quite a long time." Djurdevic also acknowledged that he had to become an adult on the fly. "It was a great learning experience because I had limited time, limited money, and had to get there on my own. I'd definitely do it over again if I had the opportunity." His mother was very relieved to have him home and had to admit she impressed with his spur of the moment adventure. "I am happy with how responsible he was. I didn't know he was able to do so much on his own," Mrs. Djurdevic says. Djurdevic has since continued his passionate path to success, earning the MVP award in the U-20 league this summer leading up to his senior season. A solid season may very well earn him a college scholarship. "If he puts together a quality highlight DVD for colleges, I see him as an outside linebacker playing at the division one level," says Chmiel. "He has the body to easily put on more weight because he has a solid frame." Djurdevic is quite busy these days. He works at a local store in addition to going to school, playing football and spending time in the weight room. "He is really into football and being independent," Mrs. Djurdevic says of her son's maturity. "He has offered me money to help pay the bills, but I can't accept it. I trust that he is making the right choices." Djurdevic recently contacted Michigan State, Boise State and Connecticut but has yet to get any offers. If he doesn't receive any interest from American programs, Djurdevic plans to study Political Science at McGill University in Montreal, but his story is far beyond what transpires on the gridiron. Whether he plays big time D1 football or for a small school in Canada, his daring journey to fulfill a dream is what coming to America is all about. |
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