Niko Beres has never played high school football in Pennsylvania before. Beres enters his senior year at Blackhawk High school after moving from Florida in March. He has had some time to get to know some of his classmates and his future football teammates. We got the opportunity to talk to Beres and got to know a little bit more about him before he plays his first high school football game in the WPIAL. Check out all of our WPIAL previews to get ready for the 2019 season and our 4A Northwest Eight Conference Preview to see how Blackhawk stacks up against their competition.
Player Profile
Name: Niko Beres
School: Blackhawk
Position: Linebacker and Fullback
Class: 2020
Highlights: Full Hudl Profile
Questions & Answers
Niko, you enter a new high school in your senior year. Tell me about your transition from Florida to Pittsburgh.
Niko Beres: “Mentally, I thought the transition would be difficult; but the coaches and players welcomed me and made sure I was comfortable throughout the transition in the middle of the school year.”
What are the expectations for Blackhawk’s football team in 2019?
NB: “We put in a Heinz Field effort every practice; so, I guess, at minimum, we expect a win at Heinz Field in November.”
Which player or a coach on Blackhawk’s football team that has made your transition to the school a little easier for you.
NB: “Without a doubt, Coach Hayward.”
What have you been doing this offseason to improve your game as a linebacker?
NB: “I’ve been hitting the gym at least 4 days a week, outside of our football workouts. I take my nutrition and recovery very serious. I’ve also been watching film from some of the legends like Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher, trying to replicate that on the field.”
Favorite video game?
NB: “Madden, easy.”
If you could choose anywhere to go to college, where would you go?
NB: “Youngstown State. I love the campus and the facilities.”
Who is the most famous person that you have ever met?
NB: “Tommylee Lewis, when he was on the Saints.”
Besides football, do you see yourself playing any other sports at Blackhawk?
NB: “I’d like to play hockey at Blackhawk, to keep my conditioning up and possibly lean my body fat percentage out before college.”
Tell us something that people would be surprised to know about you.
NB: “I used to sleep with a helmet on and a football after the equipment handouts in Youth football.”
