Peyton Ortiz '21 Recruiting Profile

My name is Peyton Ortiz.  I have a strong desire to play as a division 1 level athlete.  Football has played a significant role in my life.  When I was in elementary school, I lived for a few years in a group home with several older boys who were also in foster care.  Being able to play football with my housemates helped me in a few different ways.  Being able to play such a physical game helped me to cope with the anger and frustration that came with being in this situation.  It also allowed me to fit in because, like I said, the other boys were much older than I was, so being able to play with them on the field helped me feel like I belonged.

Football has taught me what it means to be a part of a team.  Everything from increasing one's social skills to having a desire to help others is encompassed in this game.  I feel like I would be a good asset to any program because of my leadership skills.  I am able to push people to do their best through encouragement and by leading by example.

As a player, I make an effort to be present: I show up, I pay attention, and I study and learn plays.  Respect for each other and respect for the coaches and the leadership of the team is important to a team's success, so I do my best to be respectful.

I hope that after college, I can continue to use football in my daily life.  Ideally, if I am not able to play professionally, I would like to become a high school football coach. I know that having collegiate experience and a college degree is the way to achieve this goal. Football has been important to me in my life, and I would want others to have the same chance and opportunities that I have been given.