The wait was worth it for Napolean Cross.

The Lackawanna College football team can now count the Nansemond River High School standout and graduate as a member after he recently signed with the Falcons.

“It means a lot to me,” he said. Noting his dream is to play football for the long term, he added, “This is actually a very big step for me to take to get my dream.”

Cross estimated playing football at the next level has been his dream since he was 5 years old. He was playing Pop Warner football at the time for the Bennetts Creek Warriors, and he said that his coach, Coach Love, “really inspired me and showed me the talent that I actually had to play football. So ever since then, I told myself that I wanted to play college football.”

He had to wait a little longer than some, but he noted he was waiting for other colleges to which he had talked about playing football, he was trying to figure out which was best and he was also waiting on test scores.

During the college selection process, he talked to schools including the College of DuPage in Illinois, Chowan University and California State University, Fresno.

He was originally getting recruited by Lackawanna as a linebacker, but then Lackawanna’s linebacker coach went to Purdue University.

After that, “they recruited me as a wide receiver,” Cross said.

He said he chose to sign with Lackawanna because “they told me that they can put me where I can become the best that I can be,” later adding, “they can really get me ready for the big, big colleges.”

“I really want to play for Clemson (University),” he said.

Once at a four-year school, he plans to major in aerospace engineering, desiring to fly planes.

At Lackawanna, he plans to major in human resources.

Upon hearing of Cross’ signing, “I was extremely happy for him,” said Nansemond River coach David Coccoli. “He had a good senior season.”

Cross made the All-Ironclad Conference first team as a defensive lineman in 2014.

“He’s got unlimited potential,” Coccoli said, noting 2014 was Cross’ first year on the varsity team.

He was listed as a wide receiver/defensive end on the Warriors’ roster, and now he will play on an athletic scholarship to be a Falcons wideout.

“They were talking to me about playing tight end, but as far as my size right now, I’m going to play wide receiver,” Cross said. However, with training, “once I get built up enough, I will play tight end.”

Reacting to her son’s signing, Bonita Cross said, “I was just so grateful because he has prepared since he was about 8 or 9.”

Reflecting on who helped him reach his current level of achievement, he highlighted his parents and coach Tony Freeman.

His mother also expressed gratitude for her church, Greater El Bethel Deliverance Center, and pastors there that are her son’s godparents who have helped teach him to put God first in everything.

“That’s what we teach our children is to put God first and everything else will fall into place,” she said.