What once started as Friday Night Lights has now turned into Sunday Night Football for former Saginaw Valley State University football player and alum, Trevor Nowaske.
Nowaske, a 2022 graduate of SVSU, is playing his third season in the National Football League for his home team, the Detroit Lions.
Coming out of high school, Nowaske had dreams of playing at the collegiate level.
“I was a linebacker in high school, and I really wanted to play linebacker [in college], and the coaching staff [at SVSU] believed in me at the time. Also, I just love the community around it.”
“All my coaches there, whether it was my football coaches [or] my strength staff, helped me build confidence in myself, and also life lessons that not only have taken me to this level of football, but have also helped me become a better person and a better player,” Nowaske stated.
Ryan Brady was Nowaske’s head coach during his time at SVSU.
“Trevor was a great teammate. He genuinely cared about his teammates, coaches, and team,” Brady stated. “Trevor would always do what was best for the team. He was a selfless leader, and he operated with the highest of standards and work ethic.”
Brady also reflected on his pride toward Nowaske’s character and accomplishments.
“Trevor is an exceptional, humble, down-to-earth young man. He represented SVSU extremely well as a student athlete, and now that continues as a professional,” Brady continued. “I feel like a proud father. Trevor has done an unbelievable job helping one of the best teams in the NFL win back-to-back NFC North Championships.”
Not only did he create many bonds with coaches, but he also created relationships with many off the field.
“You know, I can’t pick specific memories, but I definitely will say just overall relationships I built, like I said, the teamwork and team bonding, that stuff lasts a lifetime,” Nowaske mentioned. “And it’s really cool now being a couple years removed, still being in touch with those guys and still continuing to grow those friendships.”
Even with a successful career at SVSU, Nowaske was the underdog in pursuing his dreams to make it to the NFL.
“For the longest time, my goal was to make it to the NFL. But coming out of Saginaw Valley, I didn’t have a ton of hype around my name,” Nowaske said. “I don’t think a lot of people expected me to get to where I’m at.”
With Nowaske’s transition to the NFL, he began new relationships with both his teammates and coaching staff. As for coaches, he has felt Kelvin Sheppard, the defensive coordinator, has made a significant impact on him during his time in the NFL.
“He was a guy where, even if there [were] times I didn’t have belief in myself, he had belief in me,” Nowaske said. “And that helped me get to where I’m at [and] helped me gain some confidence in myself in the NFL.”
One teammate Nowaske has grown closest with is Jack Campbell.
“He came in with me as a rookie, and he also plays linebacker. He’s definitely shown me just how to be a pro,” Nowaske stated. “And I would like to say, I’m pretty structured in how I do things, and I feel like that’s attributed to some of my success. But, he just showed me there’s a whole other level to that that I could tap into.”
Nowaske’s journey is far from over in the NFL, and he continues to carry gratitude for his time at SVSU.
“If you’re trying to decide where to go to school, I’d highly recommend Saginaw Valley,” he said. “I have nothing but good things to say. It’s a great place, whether you’re playing sports or pursuing an education, there’s really no downside.”
