Stephen McLaughlin '21 Recruiting Profile

Hello, 

      I’m Steve McLaughlin, Linebacker and Receiver for the West Seneca West Indians. I’ve been playing football since I was 8 years old and it started a little bit different for me. I remember i saved up enough money to buy my first Xbox 360 off of ebay and it came with Madden 13. I remember playing it and thinking, “This is really easy, I can do this!” Little did I know... I couldn’t. It was a very difficult sport for me at the time, but as I grew more and got stronger and faster I really found a love for the game. I’ve played every defensive position at least once. Though I don’t have the stature of a defensive tackle, I like understanding what they have to do so I can help them if they ever need it. I have a solid knowledge of what almost every player has to do on the field which I find very important as a linebacker. I also love the offensive side of the ball. I can’t explain the adrenaline I get when I go up for a jump ball or have the ball in my hands and get to run with it. It’s truly unexplainable. But even though i’ve always loved linebacker the most I must say I adore special teams. In my highlight film you can very easily see my love for really laying a hit on someone. We did not receive the film for our game on JV against Niagara Wheatfield, (which we won 54-22) but I hit this kid they all called, “Big Andy” on a kick off late on the game harder than i’ve ever hit anyone in my life. There was a hit in the Kenmore West film that was a great block on a punt return which is a the opening clip to my highlight reel. So if you couldn’t tell, I love special teams. But i would believe my best attribute is my work ethic. Ask any coach from West, they will tell you that,  “Steve is always in the weight room.” I’ve made the weight room my home and I enjoy being a very vocal leader inside of it. I usually lead the workouts in the off season after schools everyday excepts Friday’s because, the weight room is closed. But my motor is like no others and I will stand by that statement till the day I die. My grades this year were decent, but there are some things i have to improve on this year and i’m prepared for the challenge. I’ve never been good in math but this year I plan on doing everything I can to keep that specific grade up. But i’m doing this all for college. I know that I need college for me and my family. And if i’m not going to be smart enough to get into college just by my grades then i’m just gonna have to work really hard in my passion which is football. My mom always said, “Go to college and get a good job so you can get your mother into a good nursing home!” And I don’t wanna let her down. 

-Steve McLaughlin