Feb 24

Feb 24 Black History Month: A Champion's Journey

NaSheed People (left) is all smiles with a teammate after North Carolina Central University won the Cricket Celebration Bowl. {Contributed photo}

Originally published December 22, 2022.

NaSheed Peoples had been living in a dream delayed.

The road he was traveling wasn’t ideal. The fulfillment of what he desired seemed close yet far away. The path to the dream fulfilled had been met with triumphs, trials, twists, turns, setups, setbacks and revelations.

So, when he saw himself on the massive video screen after the Cricket Celebration Bowl and gave an emphatic shout-out to his mother yelling “Ma! Where you at, Ma?!,” it was a confirmed realization that the dream was no longer that; it was reality.

Peoples was a national champion.

“The Village”

Throughout his life, anytime Peoples was participating in a school, extracurricular or church activity, he could always count on two people to be in attendance: his parents, Sophie S. Buggs and Joseph L. Peoples. “My motivation has always been my mother and father. I could literally be playing in a bowling tournament. My mom and dad will order custom t-shirts to support me as would my aunt, Marquita N. Wood. I’m a very family-oriented person and they mean absolutely everything to me.”

With the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” as part of the foundation, Peoples can attest to this fact as he notes his strong support system that includes family and friends. Born and raised in Lexington, the city has been an integral part of shaping Peoples into the man he is today.

“It prepared me for this beautiful thing we call life, which we all know can turn ugly at the blink of an eye. Coming from a small city helped me use doubt as motivation. I’ve been overlooked, like my city, my whole life. It’s easy to stay so small-minded when that’s all you know. I was fortunate to have numerous mentors as a kid who guided me to pursue my dreams. Participating in clubs such as D.R.E.A.M., run by Lexington natives Cory Holt, Shamarquis Horton, Ben Holmes, Gerard Littlejohn and others and the Males Only Service Club founded by Mr. Donnie Holt inspired me to use the game and not let it use me.”

“The Transition”

At a young age, Peoples knew he wanted to attend college as a student-athlete. Football was his sport of choice. He’d honed his skills, dedicated himself to preparing for collegiate athletics and set his sights on his next destination: North Carolina Central University. However, his plans were amended.

When he was 12, a life-altering situation occurred that would forever impact how he would proceed. “I lost my grandmother, Maggie Cade Rice, due to a long, hard fight to brain cancer. I vowed to dedicate my life to her and accomplish anything I set my mind to. My grandmother knew how strong my passion was for the game of football. She saw something in me I didn’t see in myself.”

But when the offer from his dream university never materialized, Peoples had to pivot. Having only received a few offers, he accepted one from North Carolina Wesleyan University, a Division III school in Rocky Mount. Devastated by the lack of confidence from others in his abilities, Peoples headed to the eastern part of the state unsure of his trajectory.

“The Awakening”

The 2018 Lexington Senior High graduate admits to being “broken down” and at a place where he had to “rebuild his own identity” while attending Wesleyan. “Although I had a very supportive mother and father who were willing do anything for me, I knew it was time to face things head-on as they had prepared me for these uncomfortable moments all my life.”

*Football practice at North Carolina Wesleyan. {Contributed photo}*

Stating he wouldn’t change his decision to attend the small school even if he could, the tribulation he endured was made bearable by lifelong friends he met at Wesleyan. Identified as future best men in his wedding (“when it’s time”), Terrence Craig, Jr., Cecil Whitt, Autavion Bell, Andrew Bryant and Lloyd Jarreau were integral parts of helping Peoples navigate the unfamiliar terrain as he regained his steady footing.

With a renewed confidence in himself, Peoples began to have a reoccurring feeling he was settling. Not because of Wesleyan but he was confident he was supposed to be a part of something bigger. A conversation confirmed what his conscience was saying.

“I was in the training room receiving treatment after practice and overheard a conversation between two staff members saying it was nearly impossible for a Division III athlete to compete at a Division I level. That was all I needed to hear to push me towards where my heart had always been, which was at NCCU.”

Following his heart, Peoples enrolled at the Historically Black College and University in spring 2020. Immediately engulfed with a sense of being home, he adjusted to life in Durham quickly. As rapidly as that happened, life as we all know it took a sharp turn. Two months after the semester began, Peoples found himself back home in Lexington as COVID-19 brought America to a standstill.

“The Cloud”

With the burden of taking classes online and NCCU opting out of its season due to the pandemic, Peoples found himself in unfamiliar terrains … again. But this time “the cloud” was much thicker and darker than the one he found himself immersed in at Wesleyan.

“I’d lost myself because of things not happening the way I thought they should have. The following year I was also unable to compete [in football] due to the concerns of COVID-19 causing them not to host walk-on tryouts. I had felt useless. For the first time in my life, I battled depression and didn’t know what my next move would consist of. I didn’t know if I would be able to suit up ever again, which held a dark cloud over my head. I started to regret attending NCCU and questioned God’s calling. Life had beaten me down like it had never done before - more deaths, more pain with hardly any motivation. I had lost my grandfather, Beaufort Wood, and uncle, Rev. John Willie Cade, to cancer following the passing of my dear friend, Khadyfe Downey, in a fatal car accident at the age of 18. When I thought things couldn’t get any worse, I was a victim of a shooting causing yet another setback. At that point, I knew my faith was the only thing I had and that God made no mistakes.”

With a renewed sense of self and a focus on who he was at the core, Peoples resumed workouts after recovering from his injury. In the spring of this year, he was one of 40 potential players chosen for walk-on tryouts at NCCU. Of the 40, only two made the team. Peoples was one of them.

“The Crowning”

Since September, life for Peoples has resembled the culmination of a feature film. Labor Day weekend, he played in the Duke's Mayo Classic against rival North Carolina A&T University at Bank of America Stadium in front of 35,000 fans. A Carolina Panthers fan, who cites Steve Smith, Sr. as his favorite player of all time, suiting up in the stadium was a surreal experience for Peoples. In November, the Eagles were crowned champs of the Mideastern Athletic Conference ensuring them a place in December’s Cricket Celebration Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is lauded as the HBCU National Championship.

NCCU’s opponent was the undefeated Jackson State University led by then head coach, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders. Most analysts predicted JSU would defeat the MEAC champs with ease. NCCU had other plans as they emerged victorious in overtime with a final score of 41-34.

*Peoples, center, celebrates with his NCCU teammates. {Contributed photo}*

“Finishing what we started was icing on the cake as we all knew that was the initial goal from the beginning. I’ve never played in an atmosphere like that before. I was overwhelmed with emotions thinking how far I’ve come. It truly felt like a movie I never wanted to end when the confetti began to fall. We had shocked the world as underdogs defeating Jackson State University with 50,000-plus in attendance. I had no doubt in my mind we would come out with the victory because I knew we not only deserved to be champions but we earned it as we were led by one of the best coaches in the nation, Trei Oliver.”

“The Momentum”

A few days before he traveled with his teammates to Atlanta, Peoples had some important business to handle. Checking off a goal on his list, he graduated from NCCU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Next, he plans to attend law school at his alma mater and become a defense attorney.

“I’ve gained the passion to become an attorney to help those who are misguided and deserve a second shot at life to make things right. I am blessed to have one of the best attorneys in Lexington, Corey D. Buggs, in my corner to assist me every step of the way. As I became older, I noticed things in your life sprout from your childhood and environment. Most are not given a fair opportunity, which can often lead to a path of criminal activity. I feel all it takes is the right person to come into your life to make a change. That is who I want to be for people who are striving to be better.”

Having already experienced a myriad of life’s challenges and successes by his current age of 23, Peoples has some advice for the those navigating the unfamiliar terrain.

“Be you first and foremost. If I can do it, you can, too. Don’t doubt your dreams or you’ve already failed. Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. Utilize your resources. And simply, don’t quit.”