Ethan Vanzant '24 Recruiting Profile

Picture my first lineman camp, the summer before my freshman year. I'm excited, yet nervous because I'm not really sure what to expect and there are a lot of athletes attending.. I go through all the drills in impressive fashion because surprisingly these were all the same drills my trainer had been putting me through all summer. I'm starting to feel good about myself and even getting compliments, and pats on the back from some of the station coaches. Then came the 1-v-1 competitions at the end of the day. It was a "no pads" exercise and was supposed to be pass rush only. Well. My 1st round went ok, splitting it 50/50. Because there were so many participants, they explained that we would only get 1 round , but I decided to stay after mine to watch the remainder of the matches. At the end of the competitions, a 6'0" 330lb senior O-lineman stepped into the hole and looked around to see if anyone wanted to step up. Nobody did so he started taunting. I thought about my dad’s advice on always challenging yourself so you can learn and improve, so I stepped up. Well, the 1st go, he lifted me on my heels and drove me back about 30 yards while calling me all kinds of names. I was furious and ran back up to the hole and waited for him. On the 2nd go, he lifted me up off my feet and “pancaked” me to the ground. I have to admit that this wasn’t how I had envisioned things would go, but I tell you today that I am grateful for that moment because that was the very day and moment “I was born!” From that day forward, I have worked to not only improve my skillset, but just as importantly, my ability to develop that mental toughness, or as my coach calls it, “that Nastiness”, needed to operate at the highest level of competition.

I share that story with hopes it can help you understand my make-up.  I am raised in a family where good academics is without question; showing respect and having good morals and character is held in the highest regard, and “you do what you are supposed to do so that you can do what you want to do!”

I am a dedicated, hardworking, loyal and coachable athlete who wants to become a member of a competitive program that values my make-up and can help me get to that next level of growth and development to make me the best I can be.