Steve Nagy has always shown the ability to keep his eye on the ball, or what is important.
The Trumbull High football standout, who signed to play at Wagner College on March 3, is best described as an extremely hard worker, which when transcribed means a good football player.
“Plug Steve in anywhere and he’ll function just fine,” Trumbull head coach Bob Maffei said of the 6-0, 195-pound Nagy. “That is his forte on the football field. He’s been our quarterback, a wide receiver and has played both safety positions (this past season on a sore ankle).
“Steve’s not the biggest, the fastest or the strongest, but he works so hard to get the most out of his talents. His best always came out in games. He’s a football player. He’s a perfect hybrid safety-linebacker.”
When Custavious Patterson from Wagner came to school, Nagy was out sick. He reached for the phone and contacted the Division I program on Staten Island (N.Y.). No apologies were necessary for missing school that day, the Seahawk coaching staff liked his highlight video and invited him up for a visit.
“I went a few weeks back and really liked the school,” said Nagy, who plans to take up finance. “It’s a small campus inside a big city. It’s the best of both worlds.”
Nagy met with Wagner head coach Jason Houghtaling.
“Coach said he had a roster spot if I wanted it,” Nagy said. “I went outside to the waiting room and talked to my parents. They agreed with me and I accepted the offer that day.”
Nagy started football in the fourth grade.
“I was a sickly child, but wanted to give it a try,” he said. “Finally in Pop Warner it came together and it grew from there. I had great role models (once he got to Trumbull) in Nick Roberts and Liam Moore on offense and T.J. Hayduk on defense.
“I had played many position in Pop Warner, but freshman year coach Gene Cellini showed me the read option and how to run an offense as a quarterback.”
With the emergence of Johnny McElroy at the position, Nagy made the switch.
“I figured if I could throw the ball I could catch it,” he said. “I kept working in the weight room and got quicker and stronger. I want to thank all of my coaches at Trumbull, and my trainer Mike Ayola for the workouts he did with me throughout the summer.”
Nagy’s likes film work.
“It really helps break down their tendencies,” he said. “Everyone wants to be a hero on defense, but it’s better for the team to learn your position and do what the coach tells you.”