Elijah Baker '15 Recruiting Profile

I first started playing football my eighth grade year after spending a summer playing backyard football with friends. During my seventh grade year I played soccer and basketball and decided I wanted to play a more physical sport. A sport that I could possibly strive in and something that could take me somewhere in life. As soon as I stepped into the weight room at Hibriten I knew that football was my sport. I spent my first summer working and striving to be faster and better than I ever was.

As my first year passed I continued to work and strive because I knew high school was a whole new game to play. I walked onto the field and yet again a passion grew. I knew I had to work hard and play harder so that I could again step onto the field in college. As a team member I always pushed my teammates the way I pushed myself I was always making them compete. I wasn't much of a leader through my years until my senior year started. I walked on the field and it hit me that this is my last year at Hibriten. I decided it was time to play better that I have ever played before. Time to go as far as I could. I knew the only way to play the best I could is if the team that surrounded me also played their best. This led me to becoming a leader every day I guiding, leading, and helping those who surrounded me. I pushed them harder and encouraged them to do what they thought they couldn't. In helping others strive I also helped myself and became the player I am today.

As a player I am very coachable. I listen and try to comprehend what I am being told. I will ask questions and make sure I understand what I am to do completely. I never talk back and I always strive to be the best I can be and do as I am told by my coach because I know to be a good leader you must learn from those who lead you. I use criticism to the best and allow it to shape me to be a better player and not a player who won't listen. I know that football is more than going on the field and hitting people it's about coordination and teamwork and knowing where to be and when to be there. It's about knowing yourself and your team. It's about being able to be one step ahead of the other team and outplaying them. It's about being able to play against adversity and keep your head high when nothing works out. It's about heart and determination. I have the heart of a football player. I will never give up or back down from any challenge even if I’m against all odds. I play every snap and every second no matter what the outcome or what happens. I never give up and I never plan to.

I work hard in school to maintain my grades so that I have the opportunity to play the sport I love. I get my work done and out of the way so I don't have to worry about rushing through and making a mess of things. I try to maintain a 3.75 GPA or higher and listen attentively and respectively to my teachers and those who surround me. I help those who ask and I see that need help whether I want to or not. I put others before myself and will continue to do so. I expect to see myself excel through classes and be one of the best overall student that I can be.  I want to be a person that others look up to and strive to be like, somebody that people look at and see that they too can go far and do the impossible. My whole life I was told I wasn't good enough to do anything. I was told I couldn't do it, I would never be good. That's what drives me and I want others to see me and think they can go against the odds as well.