After wanting to play football at a high level for so long, Hayden Renning has found a suitable place to do it. And he didn't even need to leave Flagstaff.

As a freshman Lumberjack, Renning's found the competition he's been seeking. He's playing football on a larger scale and is part of something bigger, which is all he could ask for.

"I've been loving every minute of it," Renning said.

At one point in his high school career, the Sinagua alum and last year's Daily Sun Football Player of the Year nearly packed up and left Arizona for the football-frenzied landscape of Alabama.

He hoped to be part of a sporting culture where football was king and the gridiron was the town's place to be on a Friday night.

Instead, he stayed in Flagstaff and was glad for it, leading the Grand Canyon Region in tackles as the Mustangs' middle linebacker. Soon after, he was offered a partial scholarship by NAU coach Jerome Souers, who had been watching Renning over the past two seasons.

"Hayden was a dominant player at Sinagua High School his entire career. It wasn't hard to see he was a guy we really wanted in our program," Souers said.

After watching Jacks' games for so long, Renning's thrilled to be playing at the collegiate level while also being the local kid that his friends and family get to watch.

"I've always wanted to play college football and to be able to play at NAU and stay home and represent the city -- it's a real great opportunity," Renning said.

Despite his familiarity with the program, Renning didn't know what to expect when he first put on the pads and helmet. Once he stepped on the practice field, his perception of college football became fully realized. He was no longer Sinagua's stalwart Mustang, but another Jack out practicing as part of the scout team.

"Everyone was the star of their high school," Renning said of his current teammates.

The speed, in particular, was the biggest adjustment on the field for the 6-foot-1, 210-pound freshman. On the academic side, Renning learned how to manage his time better while dealing with the stresses that all freshmen football players face, from mandatory study hall to having attendance sheets signed by each of his professors.

He's adjusted, for the most part, and hopes to major in graphic design while also fulfilling the prerequisites for dental school.

On the field, he practices as the long snapper on the scout team and runs drills with the linebackers. Renning was recruited primarily for his long-snapping skills, but the coaches saw the potential for him to grow into a defensive role. If he can do both, it's even better for the team -- Renning can fill two roles with a single scholarship.

"He's got the potential for development at the linebacker spot," said NAU defensive line coach Bill Smith, who recruited Renning and noticed his passion right from the start. "(I saw) his effort level, how hard he played and his intensity. He loves the game, there's no question about that. We could see that from the get-go."

While Renning happy to fill whatever role he can, his heart remains in wrapping up ball carriers.

"If I have to play snapper, if that's what going to keep me playing college football, I'll do that, but what I'd love to do is play linebacker and be able to do that here," Renning said.

Time will tell, though. Renning knows he has some more growing to do while learning the ins and outs of the position during his redshirt year. The Jacks can afford to wait on his development, too, with plenty of veteran talent at linebacker.

"We'll wait and see how it goes," Souers said. "It's really hard to tell when you're 18 years old how much bigger he'll get and how much stronger he'll get."

Whether it happens or not, Renning knows he's where he belongs and he'll keep working at reaching that goal. It's what got him here in the first place.

"There's always room to get better. As long as I come out here and I do what I have to do, listen to the coaches and players, ask questions, be plugged in, then it shouldn't be too bad," he said. "I'm lovin' it."

Jacob May can be reached at jmay@azdailysun.com or 556-2257.