Nigel Chavis is a triple threat.

The Armstrong High School senior sparkles on the football field, basketball court, and, best of all, in the classroom.

He’s a Wildcat with muscles and brains to match.

In fact, when Armstrong football coach Kedrick Moody assesses Chavis, he points to his grade point average (a shiny 3.8) before detailing his gridiron feats.

In spurring the East Enders to a rousing 3-0 start, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound grandson of former Olympic boxing qualifier Elliott Chavis pops up here, there and everywhere in his grass-stained No. 9 jersey.

Dominant on both sides of the ball as well as special teams, the running back/defensive end has earned the catchy nickname “Nigerian Nightmare.”

He explains: “It’s because of my dark skin, and because when players on other teams see me coming after ’em, it’s like they’re having a bad dream.”

Then he added: “I like to hit,” he said with a wry smile.  

Most often, he gets the best of any high-speed collisions he enjoys causing.

“Nigel is a quiet guy, but he is a leader by example on and off the field,” says Moody.

“Not a lot of joking around. He’s all business.”

In Armstrong’s opening 43-6 rout of Thomas Jefferson High School, Chavis made 14 tackles, including four sacks.

In manhandling John Marshall High School, 50-20, Chavis rushed for 130 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries, recorded six tackles (two sacks) and blocked a punt.

Relentlessly in pursuit of rival quarterbacks and ball toters, Chavis had 10 tackles and three sacks, in the 53-8 annihilation of Colonial Heights.

Academically, he’s just as impressive, taking advanced courses as biology and calculus.

The son of Patricia Chavis is one of just four students in instructor Chad Harrington’s calculus class who can carry college credit.

“Math is my favorite subject,” says Chavis.

Once football ends, Chavis adds basketball to his resume. A year ago, he was a power forward for coach Darryl Watts’ 15-6 hoops squad.

“I do the little things that don’t get in the newspaper,” he said of basketball. “I rebound and try and get all the 50-50 balls.”

He is not related to the late Jesse Chavis Sr., former Virginia Union University football player and coach.

His maternal grandfather is the late Sgt. Elliott Chavis, who made the 1980 U.S. boxing squad while serving in the Army. Tragically, a jet carrying Chavis and 13 other American boxers went down March 14, 1980, en route to a tournament in Warsaw, Poland. All 87 people aboard died in the fiery crash.

Nigel Chavis is proud of his grandfather and proud of the progress Armstrong has made under Moody, who is in his third year coaching at Armstrong.

“Basically it comes down to dedication to the program,” said Chavis. “Everyone knows they have to give 100 percent in everything — workouts, practices, games.

“If you give 100 percent, it makes the other guys give 100 percent. We push each other.”

As a defensive end, Chavis is mentored by Wildcats’ aide Jamar Jackson, a former scholarship lineman at Florida State University out of Varina High School. 

The Wildcats also are buoyed by a bevy of three-year starters, including Chavis, Andre Mack, Horace Kimbrough, Drekwon Johnson, Jamaal Vincent, Aaron Brooks, Dartrell Woody, Marquez Baker and Cameron Creech.

Operating Moody’s multiple-set offense is DeShaun Waller, a transfer from John Marshall.

To maximize his senior season, Chavis attended the Virginia Tech and University of Virginia summer camps, and was named top defensive lineman at U.Va.

Tech, Virginia, Virginia Union, Delaware State and William & Mary are among the recruiters with an eye on Chavis.

“One thing for sure, we know he’ll qualify (academically) anywhere,” says Moody.

Football. Basketball. Classroom.

Chavis is Armstrong’s total package, wrapped with blue and orange ribbons.