Casey Curtis and Sheldon Wilson pushing each other on field, in classroom

Former Anadarko star Sheldon Wilson is preparing for his first college football season at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

MIAMI, Okla. — Casey Curtis and Sheldon Wilson signed with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M under similar conditions.

Both were star prep running backs with potential NCAA Division I talent. And both are here because they waited too long to take academics seriously in high school.

On NEO’s roster, Curtis, a former Putnam City standout, and Wilson, The Oklahoman’s 2011 All-State Offensive Player of the Year from Anadarko, are just two of around 10 running backs in a fierce competition for playing time.

The two became friends after committing to NEO earlier this year and are roommates in Miami.

“When it’s on the field, it’s competitive,” Wilson said. “But when we get back to the locker room, we’re all all friends.”

Curtis said: “It’s competition, but we understand what it is and what we came here to do. We’re good friends.”

The two are taking the same summer class together, and Curtis said they are pushing each other in that arena, too.

“Me and Sheldon push each other every day,” Curtis said. “Every night we’re pushing each other to do our homework.”

The Golden Norsemen get two weeks off before returning to Miami for two-a-days, when the pads go on and the competition really heats up.

“It’s going to be crunch time here in a couple weeks,” Wilson said. “When we get the pads on, we’re going to see how good everybody is.”