By Monique Walker, Globe Staff  |  September 28, 2007

J.J. Niamkey arrived at Stonehill in 2004 prepared to play for the football team. When asked to choose a position, he told coaches, "I'll play wherever you think I can help the team."

For three years, Niamkey filled that need at cornerback. He made interceptions, broke up plays, and registered tackles in the double digits. Yet this season, Niamkey yearned to do something different his senior year.

This year, he wanted to be a receiver, and his coaches listened.

Niamkey, a Quincy High graduate, enters tomorrow night's matchup against Iona with seven receptions for 159 yards and a team-high three touchdowns in three games.

The move might have been Niamkey's idea, but he was not sure what he could produce.

"There was a little bit of pressure, but I kind of liked the pressure," Niamkey said earlier this week. "It gives you something to drive off of."

Niamkey used to thrive on defense. However, he did not like backpedaling in coverage and when something went wrong, everyone knew it.

"It was one of the toughest positions out there," Niamkey said. "You don't really get noticed until you get beat deep. You have to have great confidence."

When Niamkey approached coaches about changing positions, he said that as a receiver he could utilize his speed more. During spring practice, first-year coach Robert Talley said he had confidence Niamkey could make the transition, but he was concerned about a few dropped passes.

Talley recommended Niamkey start wearing contacts.

How much did it help?

"Judging from where he was in the spring, it definitely made a difference," Talley said.

By the time spring practice ended, Niamkey felt it was the right decision.

"This is where I should be," he said.

Niamkey wasn't the only one changing positions. David Pringle, a transfer from Tennessee State, was one of six quarterbacks vying for a position this fall. He ended up opposite Niamkey at wide receiver, playing the position for the first time in his career. Pringle leads the Skyhawks with nine receptions for 181 yards.

Niamkey credits Pringle and quarterback Cruz Parsons with helping him settle in at wideout. In their short time playing together, Pringle and Niamkey have shared a healthy competition that drives them.

"He's a good person and he doesn't want egos to get in the way of what we have going on right now as a team," Pringle said. "So I push him and he pushes me."

Parsons, who missed last season with a torn meniscus, enjoys the wide receivers' perspectives.

"[Niamkey's] experience on defense makes him a better receiver because he understands what's going on as far as coverage and he helps me out," Parsons said. "[Pringle] knows what I'm looking at. He can tell where I need him to be."

If neither is open, Parsons said the offense can turn to back Eddie Vachon, who has rushed for 185 yards and one touchdown this season.

"As long as somebody has a big day, then we're doing our job as an offense," Parsons said.

Stonehill is off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 1996, and for Niamkey, who has been with the program the last three years, the successful beginning is one the Skyhawks appreciate after going 1-9 last season.

"We're 3-0, but we're using that fire and excitement to keep on preparing for the next game," Niamkey said.