Nomar Tejada arrived at Cornell University as a basketball player still learning football. After moving through several defensive positions, he has built his role around being available wherever the Big Red needs him.
In an October 29 Cornell Athletics profile, the Ithaca student-athlete described a path shaped by a serious childhood illness, international basketball, the pandemic and teammates who helped him through doubts about changing sports.
“Wherever I'm needed, I'm available,” Tejada told Cornell.
He has played cornerback, safety, inside linebacker, defensive line and outside linebacker. His greatest impact now comes on special teams, according to the profile.
Basketball came first
Tejada said he was diagnosed with erythromelalgia in sixth grade. Heart-rate problems associated with the condition led to seizures and a medically induced coma, followed by a year of treatment that included a month in intensive care at Boston Children's Hospital.
He credited his parents and sister, Brianna, with supporting him through the illness. His focus then was getting back to basketball.
After his symptoms subsided, his family moved to the Dominican Republic when he was in eighth grade. Born in Massachusetts and raised speaking English and Spanish, Tejada initially struggled with leaving his friends and childhood home.
His father helped him connect with basketball opportunities. Tejada made the Dominican Republic's under-16 national team and helped it earn bronze at the Americas Championship in Brazil, according to his account.
The pandemic interrupted plans to play in the under-17 World Cup. He returned to the United States for prep school, first at Woodstock Academy in Connecticut and later at Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts.
A new sport opened a college path
At Brooks, friends encouraged him to try football. A lingering knee injury had limited his basketball play, and he decided to give football a serious year.
The team finished with one loss and won its bowl game. Tejada said the season was dedicated to teammate Preston Settles, the team's kicker, who had died the previous spring. Tejada had been his holder.
“What drove me again was to play for something so much bigger than myself,” he said.
Tejada returned an interception for a touchdown in the bowl game, and college coaches began calling. Cornell was the first to reach out.
His transition was difficult. Coaches initially placed him at cornerback, a position he had never played. Older teammates stayed after practice to help him learn, and he studied the habits of players such as Damon Barnes.
At times, Tejada wondered whether he should return to basketball. He recalled senior teammate Jake Stebbins noticing that he was struggling, inviting him home for dinner and talking with him.
That support helped him learn that struggling did not mean he should give up, Tejada said.
Building a life beyond the field
Tejada said his Christian faith has become central to his life. He now leads Fellowship of Christian Athletes activities, worship, Bible studies and team chapels.
He also described academic difficulties early at Cornell, including a low grade in a freshman writing seminar and late nights studying business. Surrounding himself with teammates who took classes seriously helped him change his approach.
He is studying applied economics and management in the S.C. Johnson College of Business, is pursuing an engineering management minor and hopes to work for a general contractor. He also participates in the Red Key Society and Big Red Buddies.
Tejada said his father's years of building a business provide a model for his own demanding days. On the field, he wants teammates to know that he will work without a guaranteed starting role or championship outcome.
His goal, he told Cornell, is to give the team what it needs and show up each day with a positive attitude.
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