A PLACE TO GROW
Webster City grad Cherry finds a new home as part of the Central Michigan football family
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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Jaxon Cherry is living out his dream.
Years ago, the 2024 Webster City graduate quietly set a lofty goal to become a Division I football player. After countless hours of hard work and unyielding sacrifice, Cherry beat the odds and took the field earlier this month for Central Michigan University's 2026 season opener at New Mexico.
Cherry is listed as a 265-pound junior defensive lineman for the Chippewas. Wearing No. 92, he made three tackles - and got credit for half a sack - against the Lobos, then picked up four more tackles and a quarterback hit on Saturday in a home victory over Colgate.
Cherry received plenty of interest on the recruiting trail after a decorated all-state career with the Lynx - just not enough for his liking relative to college football's highest level. That didn't deter Cherry, who passed on offers from smaller schools to instead attend Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs for two years.
Cherry's strategy was to get bigger, stronger and more prepared for what was still to come.
"(Playing Division I football) became a main goal for me when I realized how much I loved the sport and how far I could potentially take it," said Cherry, who helped lead Webster City to a 22-10 overall record in his three varsity seasons with the Lynx from 2021-23. "Coming from a small town in Iowa, I wanted to prove that where you're from (size wise) doesn't necessarily determine how good you can become.
"Once I started believing that I could (make it as a high-end prospect), I started really putting in the work."
Central Michigan recruited and then offered Cherry last November. He committed to the Chippewas during Iowa Western's run to a national title; Cherry was among the defensive leaders in sacks and tackles for loss for the Reivers.
"One of the biggest factors in going to CMU was the opportunity to compete at the Division I level and be part of a program where I felt like I could develop as a player and as a person," said Cherry, Webster City's all-time leading rusher with 4,696 yards and 77 touchdowns. "CMU also felt like a place where I could come in and work for what I wanted instead of having everything handed to me.
"My experience so far has been great. I've learned a lot about football, but I've also grown up a lot as a person and learned how to handle the demands that come with being a college athlete."
The Chippewas dropped their opener two weeks ago to New Mexico - a squad that went 9-4 and was edged by Minnesota in the Cactus Bowl last season. Cherry played on the interior of the defensive line.
"My first impression was that everything was just faster and more physical," Cherry said of the trip to Albuquerque. "The atmosphere was different, too. There were more people, there was more energy, and you could really feel how much the game meant to everyone.
"It showed me that Division I football is a different ballgame, but it also made me realize I belong here and that all the work I put in was worth it."
Cherry continues to grow - and learn. The journey from Webster City to Council Bluffs and now Michigan - Mount Pleasant is 600 miles from home and a little over two hours northwest of Detroit - has been everything from challenging to euphoric, depending on the circumstance.
"I've learned that I'm capable of more than I thought I was, but I also know that nothing is going to be given to me," Cherry said. "At Webster City, I learned how important it is to work hard and stay committed. At Iowa Western, I started to understand how competitive football can be and what it takes to play at a high level.
"Both experiences taught me how to deal with adversity, stay consistent, and keep working - even when things don't go exactly how I want them to."
Cherry believes his CMU story is just beginning both on and off the field.
"I want to continue getting better every week, be someone my teammates can count on, and make an impact every time I'm on the field," Cherry said. "As a team, the goal is to compete for a MAC championship.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us, but I believe in the guys in our locker room and what we're capable of accomplishing if we stay together and keep working."
Cherry feels like he's come so far, and yet, has so much more left to give the game and accomplish in life.
"It's taken a lot of work to get here," Cherry said. "Coming from a small town, I didn't necessarily have the same exposure or opportunities as some other guys. I had to believe in myself and keep proving myself. There were plenty of times when things didn't go my way, but I never let that stop me.
"Getting to CMU wasn't just about playing Division I football for me. It was about proving to myself that I could take something I dreamed about and actually make it happen."