Silver Pigskin Finalist: Nathen Stinson, Helix
On a warm October night back in 2010, the PPR sent their cameras east to El Capitan for the Pop Warner Midget Division Championship. There was a tremble over an unstoppable team adorned in blue and white, with a running back that could move mountains. The camera’s light turned red, and his little legs churned past the challenging National City squad that night, easily coasting to a championship. That eighth grader would enroll at Helix charter a few months later, when only a chosen few knew what spectacular sights everyone would soon behold.
And in this moment, five years later, Nathen Stinson is not a fairy tale. He’s a dominator.
This 2015 Silver Pigskin Finalist has had a monumental senior season. The 5’6" 175lb running back recording 123 carries for 1,117 total yards and 23 touchdowns, making him more than qualified to stand at the podium December 15th. Stinson sat in Carroll’s Corner this year, Coach Carroll analyzing his "break-away speed" and predicting that his college future "only has an upside; he can run, he’s got great vision, he’s got great determination, he’s got everything you’re looking for." With multiple 1,000 yard seasons, Nathen’s career stats look like this: 343 carries, 3,005 yards, 44 touchdowns.
Helix Coach Troy Starr has seen tremendous growth in maturity from Nathen since his freshman year. "Stinson is a kid that I have watched mature over the years. He is humble, always concerned about other guys getting playing time, getting the ball, he will even block for guys! It’s awesome to watch someone like that play, where he could stay in the game, but chooses to come out to give other guys a shot." Coach Starr explained how when given a day off from school, like Veterans Day this week, while other kids talked about how they played video games all day and just hung out, Stinson talked about his fishing adventures. "The kid loves to fish, its awesome for a boy that age to enjoy something like that. It really shows who he is." Nathen is currently being recruited by Northern Arizona University, Eastern Washington University, Portland State, Southern Utah, and Idaho State.
His speed, talent, and vision as a running back make him a stand out football player. Add his humble character, benevolence, and selflessness on and off the field, and you have yourself a Silver Pigskin Finalist.
Cast up to (3) votes for Nathen Stinson:
