SAFFORD — Safford senior Derek Nabor’s name will be in Eastern Arizona College’s history books at least twice.
He will be a part of the school’s first men’s soccer team when play gets underway this coming fall. And he’s the first Graham County player to sign with the team.
“It’s very exciting; kind of unreal at the moment,” Nabor said during the signing ceremony Tuesday at Safford High School. “Getting ready to play at the next level is so exciting. I’m ready to take the next step in my life.”
Nabor finished the Bulldogs’ 2022-23 season with 27 points, including 12 goals and three asissts, in his role as a striker. He was named 3A Southeast Region First Team this year, and his junior year he was named 3A South Offensive Player of the Year and 3A First Team All-Conference.
He said his discussions with the coaching staff indicate he’ll likely remain a striker with the Gila Monsters.
EAC Head Coach Bobby Peters said Nabor was a stand-out when he was recruiting for the inaugural squad.
“He’s got athleticism; he’s a quick player. He’s able to move across the field with speed, but more importantly, he’s also technical,” Peters said. “He understands how to use the ball; he’s put in time and effort, you can see that. Whenever we were doing our clinics, he was consistently one of the top performers.”
Peters said he’s looking for a blend of foreign-born and domestic players to fill out his roster, one of whom is Nabor’s fellow Arizonan, San Luis senior Roberto Uribe. The midfielder/wing finished with 20 goals and eight assists for the Sidewinders, and was named 6A First Team All-Conference and 6A Desert Southwest First Team.
