Nate Enderle

Nate Enderle arrived at the University of Idaho in January 2006 – a 17-year-old freshman just out of Nebraska’s North Platte High School.

Recruited to Idaho to quarterback the football team, Enderle immediately felt at ease.

“The people remind me of home,” says Enderle of the citizens of Moscow. “They’re nice and polite. They love their athletic programs. It made it easy for me to get into the community.”

It wasn’t long before a coaching revolving door began and the staff that had recruited him was on the way out. The next group stayed but 10 months and a sense of cynicism settled over the team. Enter Robb Akey and his high energy pitches about family and togetherness and winning. It turns out there was substance behind the pitches. Akey truly believes in the team as a family, Enderle notes. It took a couple years, but the Vandals did win.

“For me, the football team has been a very good experience. Coach Akey really pushes the family atmosphere,” says Enderle.

There was more change in store for Enderle. He enrolled as a pre-med major with microbiology his intent. Yet, it never seemed right. It wasn’t long before memories of an enjoyable high school class came to mind. The next thing he knew, he was an art major – graphic design specifically.

“Going from science to art wasn’t very typical,” he says. “I love it. It’s a different feeling. The students are different. It’s really neat to see the different walks of life in the different colleges.”

What’s next, though, depends not as much on the state of the economy and the market for graphic designers, but what is going down in the reports from the National Football League scouts, who have spent hundreds of hours watching video, practice and games to see if Enderle fits in their plans.

“I need to see where football takes me,” says Enderle.