Nipomo High School running back Michael Jordan embraces comeback of his own

When the words comeback and Michael Jordan are put next to each other, it’s hard not to conjure up 20-year-old images of a basketball legend, a baseball pipe dream and the number 45.

This is not that story, but Nipomo High School senior running back Micheal Jordan knows it well.

“That’s what everyone was comparing it to,” Jordan said at practice Wednesday. “First day I walked in, the team was like, ‘That’s Michael! That’s Michael! He’s back!’ ”

Two years ago, Jordan was a running back on Nipomo’s CIF-Southern Section Northwest Division Championship team. He scored seven touchdowns in seven games as a skinny sophomore.

Then things got complicated. He moved with his mother to Santa Maria and drifted off the course he pictured for himself.

“I got caught up with the wrong crowd and was doing a lot of stupid stuff with my friends,” Jordan said. “I just kept getting into trouble. I was seeing my life go down the wrong path.”

Jordan ended up at Delta High School, a continuation school in Santa Maria. Near the end of his junior year, he talked with his mom.

“I said, ‘I don’t want to keep hanging out with the guys I’m hanging out with. I don’t want to keep doing what I’m doing. I want to play football again,’ ” Jordan said. “I texted (Nipomo coach Tony Dodge) that I want to come back, I miss football and I’m coming back. And that’s exactly what I did.”

Nipomo teammate Spencer Pool and his family offered Jordan a place to live, and he re-enrolled at Nipomo. But when he showed up at practice this summer — after the cheering was over — reality set in: He was out of shape.

“His 40 (yard dash) time was not impressive at all.” Dodge said. “It kind of scared us a little bit. But we kinda knew all along he has it in him, and we just had to kinda bring it back out.”

Now at an athletic 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, Jordan is regaining the form he last flashed in 2014. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the two games he has played in this season — averaging better than 7 yards per carry — and has four touchdowns as the Titans’ featured running back.

“There are a lot of people that thought I wouldn’t be back,” Jordan said. “I just want to prove that I would be back and better than my sophomore year.”

Dodge said Jordan — a self-described “jokester” — has transformed from a sophomore with an attitude into one of the team’s leaders so far this season.

“It’s good to see him working for it and wanting to be better. He has been a pleasant addition to the team so far,” Dodge said. “He’s becoming a good student and a good citizen.”

Jordan will be out to continue his strong comeback campaign when Nipomo (1-2) takes the field Friday night at home against Santa Ynez (2-0). His motivation will be close by.

“I told my mom, ‘I’m going to do everything I can for you, my sisters and my brothers,’ ” Jordan said Wednesday as his teammates warmed up nearby. “Now she’s in the stands every Friday night. She’s all, ‘I’m so proud of you,’ and I’m like ‘I told you I could do it.’ ”

Jordan paused for a second.

“It’s good being back.”

This story was originally published September 14, 2016 at 6:14 PM with the headline "Nipomo High School running back Michael Jordan embraces comeback of his own."