MERIDIAN— Since eighth grade, Jordan Foley's mind was made up.

Playing for an undefeated, record-setting college football team wasn't enough to change it.

Foley, a Meridian resident and 2007 Shady Side Academy graduate, has accepted a nomination to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, where he will attempt to play football. He reports to the academy July 2.

"We took a field trip to the Naval Academy in Annapolis when I was in eighth grade,"Foley said. "I was so impressed by it that I decided I'd pursue it as a career.

"The Navy has always felt like a good fit for me."

Foley applied for the Naval Academy last year, but was turned down. He wound up attending Case Western Reserve, a Division IIIuniversity in Cleveland, Ohio, and played football there.'

Case produced the first 10-0 season in school history and reached the NCAAplayoffs for the first time. Foley began the year as a defensive back, but was moved to wingback and saw action in five games at that position.

His statistics were modest — five rushes for 31 yards, three catches for 14, two kick returns for 30 — but the position suited his skills.

Case picked up the school's first football playoff win last fall as well, a 21-20 decision over Widener. The winning touchdown occurred in the final seconds and Foley caught a 15-yard pass on fourth down to extend the deciding drive.

"I played quarterback in high school, but I'm only 5-foot-9, 190 pounds," Foley said. "You can get away with that size at quarterback in high school Double A, but not at the college level. I feel like I can be a productive wingback in college.

"I wasn't going to give up on the Navy. I decided to apply again this year and they accepted me. If they hadn't, I would have returned to Case Western."

While Case Western is ranked No. 10 in the Division III preseason poll and Foley likely would have seen ample playing time this coming season, he's opting to climb the ladder in Navy's program.

"My goal this year is to make the practice squad," Foley said. "From there, get to junior varsity, then hopefully play in the Army-Navy game a couple of times."

Foley plans to major in Chemistry and Chinese. He carried a 4.09 grade point at Case Western Reserve in 2007-08 without declaring a major.

Navy has been to five consecutive bowl games and is coming off an 8-5 season, losing 35-32 to Utah in the Poinsettia Bowl.

The Midshipmen have won the Commander-In-Chief Trophy — awarded to the winner of the annual Army-Navy-Air Force football series — five straight years and owns a combined 10-game winning streak over the other two service academies.

Navy uses slotbacks as opposed to wingbacks in its offense and has eight slotbacks listed on its 2008 roster.

"There's a five-year service commitment after four years of education,"Foley said of Navy. "But you have seven years to fulfill those five years. I may go on to graduate school. I'll have several service options."

Foley earned eight varsity letters at Shady Side. He lettered three years in football, throwing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns, rushing for over 900 yards and 11 scores.

He played point guard in basketball, averaging eight points and five assists per game while earning three letters. A two-year letterman in baseball, he hit over .400 as a senior third baseman and stole a school-record 26 bases.

Foley was a captain in all three sports his senior year.

"Football seems to be the sport my skills are better suited for,"Foley said. "If Navy wanted me to play basketball, I'd put on those shoes. If they wanted me to play baseball, I'd pick up my glove.

"If I could play anything, I would, but football seems to be my best shot and I'm going for it.'