August 6, 2012

Former North Bergen defensive end Mike Mentor (left) has signed to play at Wagner. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Mike Mentor knew he'd have to remain patient as the summer came along and his football future was still uncertain. That patience has finally been rewarded.

Mentor's long-winding journey to a college scholarship reached its conclusion when the former North Bergen standout signed with Wagner for the upcoming season.

"It was getting so late in the process that I was ready to go to Northern Michigan and I was telling Coach (John) Shuman that (Wagner) might not call back," Mentor said. "He always kept telling me on the phone to 'just be patient. I've been patient all year, getting my ACT scores so you can patient with this, not to worry about this, they'll definitely call back.' I didn't lose hope and eventually they called back. He was right.  He kept my head up a lot during the process."

Up until late July, Mentor did not know where he'd be continuing his career this fall. Mentor, who attended at played at Fork Union Military Academy this past season, was originally a verbal commitment to play at James Madison, but by the time he was academically qualified to play there, the scholarship offer was no longer available.

Mentor then thought he was going to be attending Northern Michigan, but at the advice of Fork Union head coach John Shuman, Mentor held off on signing there.

"Coach Shuman called me and said don't sign anything yet because Wagner eventually is going to call back," Mentor said. "When they called back, they told me they loved my tapes and that I could go in and play. I had a decision to make and I just went with them."

As challenging as the last few months may have been for the 6-foot-2, 255-pound Mentor, it pales in comparison to what he endured in high school. His football career seemed over when he tore the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his left knee in a 2008 scrimmage as a sophomore at North Bergen.

The injuries required multiple surgeries and cost Mentor his sophomore and junior seasons. Finally healthy as a senior, he showed why he was considered one of the area's most promising talents as he recorded 15 sacks and earn HCV All-County First Team honors in 2010.

"Before I had the injury my sophomore year I promised my mother I was going to get a scholarship," said Mentor. "Then I got the injury in high school and I just felt like it was pushing me back and at one point it just seemed impossible. I learned there's always a way to do things in life and Fork Union was just one of the best things that ever happened to me. I appreciate the game of football and the opportunity to be a student athlete."