Blaine Neill '18 Recruiting Profile

My goal is  to play football  at the next level .  I love the game and the competition.  I continue on a daily basis to work out with my team,  practice and go back to the gym at night.  I continue to watch videos of other athletes to see how it may help me become better physically and mentally.  I have trained with personal trainers many times.  It makes you tougher mentally.  It doesn't matter what you look like or the uniforms or shoes you wear it's what you are all about.  I have overcome many obstacles in my life and I was told I would never have a normal arm from a broken elbow I suffered playing football in the 6th grade.  I went through 3 surgeries and months and months of different braces and therapy.  I taught myself how to play basketball left handed and  at that time basketball was my favorite sport.       I proved  some of the best doctors wrong.  I am stronger mentally and physical because so many told me I could never do it.  I did not give up then nor do I intend on giving up anytime soon. The beginning of my 8th grade year I broke both bones in my lower leg and developed compartment syndrome.  They rushed me to surgery.  I have many scars but I just look at them as that's who I am.  I have a goal and am determined to prove to myself  I can do great things.  So many young athletes would have said why.  Why do you keep going.   Is it really worth it?  The answer is yes.  Setting goals and working hard will pay off.   I have  never  given up on playing the game. This injury  took almost a full year to completely recovery but I never gave up.  I was not able to play sports my 8th grade year.  In constant therapy.  My sophomore year I earned a starting position on the varsity football team.  The third game of the year I suffered the worst concussion a person can have.  I was not released to play sports again until the 2 weeks into basketball.  Nothing has kept me down.  I even had people tell me I may have to give the game up and be a coach and that would be my testimony.  I'm not settling for that.  I don't want to be a coach.  I want to be a player and I am a team player.  I focus on my grades and football.  Math is not my best subject so I have to work a little harder in that class.  Nothing in life is easy.  That's things you like or don't like.